Jack Ryan: From Paralyzed to Peaks

“I had a goal in mind, I’m gonna walk out of this hospital. That’s the only goal.”

Jack Ryan is defined by grit, determination and unwavering will. His life has unfolded through bold adventures, intense sports and even guiding surfers in Nicaragua. That all took shape before a life-threatening injury radically transformed everything. He faced those changes head-on, refused defeat and overcame odds that weren’t in his favor.

Ryan grew up in “America’s Finest City,” also known as San Diego, but now lives in Bend.

“I thank my lucky stars, l grew up super privileged. I had a great upbringing…we were fortunate enough to do a lot of cool things growing up.”

Those cool things shaped who he became. From surfing and spearfishing to freediving, his childhood was rich with physical challenge and fearless exploration. As a seven-year-old, he and his brother backpacked Santa Catalina Island armed only with spearguns. Relying on their own ability to survive.

By 16, Ryan was traveling solo across California, fueled by curiosity, independence and supportive parents. At 17, he ventured abroad for the first time, heading to Mexico.

“I went down to the Sea of Cortez at 17 because I DM’d a bunch of old dudes on a spearfishing forum.”

This drive for adventure led him to the Enchanted Islands, a small cluster of volcanic islands off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, where he honed his skills spearfishing in the clear Pacific waters. By 2015, Ryan had saved enough money to move to Nicaragua and immerse himself in a Brazilian surf camp. There he worked as a surf guide while attending school full time. The camp didn’t just sharpen his surfing it introduced him to Jiu-Jitsu.

“They had a resident black belt who would run clinics at the camp.” He says, “You’re around all these Brazilians that could literally kill you for fun. And I’m like a jacked white boy that has no idea how to defend himself.”

Ryan began training once or twice a week, slowly building skill and confidence. In 2017, he made the decision to commit fully to the discipline. Between Jiu-Jitsu, powerlifting, hiking and other pursuits, he found himself craving a new kind of challenge, summiting Mount San Gorgonio, the tallest peak in Southern California at 11,503 feet. He pushed himself to the top and reached the summit in under six hours, proving to himself that his drive could match any mountain.

Naturally, his next target became the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney. The mountain rises to 14,505 feet, and for Ryan it represented more than just another climb, it was the next test of his determination and endurance.

On Nov. 29, 2018, just one month before he was set to climb Mount Whitney, he suffered a catastrophic Jiu-Jitsu injury. His neck was crushed at the C4–C5 vertebrae, rendering him paralyzed from the neck down with incomplete quadriplegia. Around 12 hours later he suffered multiple hemorrhagic strokes. Surgeons performed emergency procedures that included removal of blood clots and fusion of damaged vertebrae with titanium support.

In this situation, most people would have given up. After all, what can anyone really do when faced with something so life changing? Ryan, however, is not your average person.

“I saw a lot of broken people in rehab, and I was broken, too,” he continues. “I never gave myself an opportunity to feel bad for myself.”

His early recovery was brutal. He was intubated and communicated through an alphabet board for nearly a week. Hallucinations, extreme temperature swings and loss of bodily autonomy pressed in on him. Finally, a flicker of hope came when Ryan had movement in his big toe.

If you can’t tell already, Ryan is a free-spirited individual. Always ready for adventure, willing to take risks, and constantly searching for the next thrill. Becoming paralyzed didn’t change that.

“I have all the PTSD and scars to show for it, but at no point was there an option. It just wasn’t an option to quit”

After months of rehab, Ryan had finally relearned to control his limbs, move independently, and slowly regain mobility. He wasn’t finished with extreme sports. He threw himself into learning how to rock climb and took up cycling, finding new ways to challenge himself.

With his heart still set on summiting Mount Whitney, Ryan was finally ready to set out on his biggest and most challenging adventure yet. On Aug. 7, 2021, Ryan stood at the foot of the mountain, preparing for the climb of a lifetime. Thankfully he wasn’t alone as he had a full team with him, supporting him every step of the way.

Summiting Mount Whitney is no small feat. At 14,505 feet, with a grueling 22-mile round trip and more than 6,000 feet of elevation gain. The thin air, steep switchbacks, and unpredictable weather tests even seasoned hikers. Every step was a battle against fatigue, pain, and the limits of his recovering body. For Ryan, the climb wasn’t just about reaching the summit; it was his defiance of every limit placed on him. It was proof that no obstacle, not even disability, could decide what was possible.

After five relentless days of blood and sweat, Ryan and his team stood at the summit, making him the only person in the world with a spinal cord injury to conquer Mount Whitney.

Ryan moved to Bend with his girlfriend in April of this year. He’s currently volunteering for Oregon Adaptive Sports, participating in community bike rides, rock climbing and competing in gravel races across Oregon. He’s currently averaging 50 to 100 miles a week on his bike, and his extreme sports journey is only just getting started.

To close our interview, I asked Ryan what message he wanted to leave with those who would read his story.

“Don’t take your body for granted,” Ryan says. “I don’t think anyone should take their fitness and their ability for granted, because it can all be taken away from you.”

He pauses, then continues, “Movement is medicine. The outdoors are medicine. Make it a point to volunteer with people that may not be able to. If you have the opportunity, time and money to volunteer, go volunteer with disabled athletes. You may see it as inspirational, but, for somebody like me, I just want to be outside.”

Ryan has big plans for Paralyzed to Peaks, so keep an eye on what’s ahead. To learn more about his journey, visit his website paralyzedtopeaks.com.

This article appears in Source Weekly July 31, 2025.