My name is Ryan Boileau. I’m 26 years old, and at the end of 2023, I went legally blind. That could have marked the end of my adventures—but thanks to the incredible support of Braille Mountain Initiative and Tyson Rettie, it became the beginning of something extraordinary. With Braille Mountain's support, I’ve reached new heights—both literally and metaphorically. I’ve summited mountains, carved fresh tracks through glacial terrain, and earned my AST 1 certification. This has shown me that I’m not only along for the ride, but that I can truly be a useful member of the team.
Less than two years ago, my vision started to fade. Fast and unexpectedly. In less than four months, I was legally blind. It was a whirlwind of confusion and loss. I couldn’t drive. I couldn’t read the screen on my phone. I had to leave my job. My future felt uncertain and staying positive was tough.
Then one day, I came across a Facebook post that changed everything—a group called Braille Mountain Initiative was taking blind and visually impaired people hiking and backcountry ski touring in the mountains. My first reaction? There’s no way I can ski again. I grew up skiing in Ontario and Quebec, with annual trips to Mont Tremblant. I loved skiing from the first day I ever clicked into bindings. Losing my vision felt like losing that forever.
But something inside me said, Why not try? I reached out to Tyson, told him I was interested, and dusted off my ski gear. My first time back on skis in the resort was frustrating—relearning how to read the terrain without seeing it, how to react to changing snow and slope angles, and how to sync with a guide’s voice. But slowly, turn by turn, I started to get it back.
Then came the big leap: my first time skiing in British Columbia, my first time ski touring, and my first solo trip visually impaired. I was nervous—but very excited at the same time. When I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms. The group was warm, encouraging, and full of good energy. Before I knew it, we were at Sorcerer Lodge, gearing up for our first day in the backcountry!
From day one, we dove into learning: avalanche safety, rescue skills, terrain awareness. One day stands out above the rest—our climb and ski descent on Nordic Glacier. We were up early, climbing before the sun hit the slope. As we ascended, sunlight spread over the peaks, and the sky opened up into a perfect bluebird day. We stopped for slope assessments, practicing avalanche terrain evaluation, and then pushed onward. Over 1100 meters of climbing later, we reached the summit. It was breathtaking. We had lunch on top of the world, soaking it all in—and then we dropped into one of the most epic runs I’ve ever had. Wide open terrain, silky snow, and smooth, flowing turns all the way down.
That trip redefined what I thought was possible. I didn’t just ski again—I thrived. I came back with a deeper understanding of my own capability and independence. Going blind hasn’t ended my adventures—it’s reshaped them. I’ve got big goals now: climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, solo travel across the globe, and more mountain days ahead.
Sure, I might have to do things differently. But different doesn’t mean less. This trip was life-changing, and I’m so incredibly grateful to have been part of it.