Ryan is Trails Mag's editor-in-chief, web designer, video producer, ad salesperson, shipping clerk, social media manager, and basically anything else that the day calls for. Ryan grew up in New York's Adirondack Mountains and became Backpacker Magazine's go-to Northeast expert while still in college. Eventually, as they almost always do, he moved out to Colorado where he became a full-time freelance journalist. Two weeks traveling the Northville-Placid Trail in his home of the Adirondacks are among his favorite days spent backpacking.

Emily (she/they) is Trail's Mag's photo editor. She is a photographer and writer based in Alaska on Dena’ina lands. Before settling in Anchorage, she spent a decade working as a hiking and backpacking guide in and around Denali National Park, traveling, shooting photos, and learning to ski. Her photos and writing appear in The Ski Journal, Adventure Journal, Wilder Magazine, Trailbreak Magazine, Hi Hey Hello Magazine, and more. Emily's favorite backpacking trip was a solo trip in 2018: She spent a week hiking and packrafting near the Arrigetch peaks in Gates of the Arctic National Park.