Ryan grew up surrounded by a family that lived for winter. Snowmobiling and skiing were at minimum a weekly event. The smell of exhaust permeated the garage year-round as his dad built and tuned snowmobiles long before the snow started to fall. Ryan vividly remembers the annual task of bolting on Simmons aluminum cleats, all for the hope of having bragging rights about high marking a hill.
Ryan grew up with the pioneers of hillclimbing back when it use to be a competition between family and neighbors in the backcountry. He now sits on the Rocky Mountain States HillClimb Association (RMSHA) board as the Marketing and Social Media Director. He also acts as the Sponsor Rep and spends most races capturing the crazy action as the contracted photographer.
Ryan got his start in photography at age 13, and he now owns and operates three different photography companies: RLT Photography (portraiture), RLT Photos (snowmobiles) and FaceShots Photography (skiing).
Ryan loves to write and shoot, and he tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife and kids on the snow. When he is not at hillclimbing events, Ryan rides weekly with a very diverse group; all sled manufacturers are represented on almost every ride. Feel free to come along and rip with them. They meet at first dam at the mouth of Logan Canyon in northern Utah every Saturday at 9 a.m.
If you have questions or story ideas for Ryan, email him at
ryan@rltphotos.com.