CONTACT | Ryan Rumpca Studio

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CONTACT

Contact@ryanrumpca.com

Duluth, Minnesota, United States

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@benny.fierek and the boys scoring some Lake Superior gems last week.
The swell was thanks to on an early winter storm, bringing 45 MPH winds and 10 inches of snow to some areas. Tis the season 🏄🏼‍♂️ 🎁❄️🧊

@benny.fierek and the boys scoring some Lake Superior gems last week.
The swell was thanks to on an early winter storm, bringing 45 MPH winds and 10 inches of snow to some areas. Tis the season 🏄🏼‍♂️ 🎁❄️🧊

Connect the Dots.
When @jamie.cooper24 originally reached out about this concept of a bike-rafting trip in northern Minnesota, I was intrigued. Not only was my interest piqued by the area being some of my favorite woods in the world, but the concept of a multi-disciplinary adventure was novel and out-there. As we talked about it more, we kept coming back to just how underrated this area is and how accessible opportunities for your own adventures are. Excited to see where this concept leads us.
Most photos by Jamie, edited by me. Video by me.
Between Hubs Series 3/3.

Connect the Dots.
When @jamie.cooper24 originally reached out about this concept of a bike-rafting trip in northern Minnesota, I was intrigued. Not only was my interest piqued by the area being some of my favorite woods in the world, but the concept of a multi-disciplinary adventure was novel and out-there. As we talked about it more, we kept coming back to just how underrated this area is and how accessible opportunities for your own adventures are. Excited to see where this concept leads us.
Most photos by Jamie, edited by me. Video by me.
Between Hubs Series 3/3.

The Good the Bad and the Ugly.
Our bike-rafting trip connecting Ely and Grand Marais wasn’t meant to be easy. In fact, it purposefully sought out an unconventional route with many question marks on the map. This allowed us to experience everything that the area had to offer, and it was quite clear that some sections hadn’t been traversed by humans for quite some time. Nothing like some good ol type two fun.
Between Hubs Series 2/3.

The Good the Bad and the Ugly.
Our bike-rafting trip connecting Ely and Grand Marais wasn’t meant to be easy. In fact, it purposefully sought out an unconventional route with many question marks on the map. This allowed us to experience everything that the area had to offer, and it was quite clear that some sections hadn’t been traversed by humans for quite some time. Nothing like some good ol type two fun.
Between Hubs Series 2/3.

Between Hubs.
Back in June my buddy @jamie.cooper24 and I set off on an unconventional adventure in Minnesota’s Northwoods. Our goal was to connect the two major hubs of the BWCA, Ely and Grand Marais, via an off-the-beaten-trail route using bicycles and pack rafts. While the BWCA is an incredible recreational area that I love dearly, we wanted to show that there is equally as much adventure in the amazing public land adjacent to the wilderness area. Many of the watersheds in the area we traversed flow into the pristine BWCA, and there are ongoing threats of copper nickel mining operations to begin in the area (See @savethebwca for more info). Being that both Jamie and I are filmmakers and photographers, what better way to document the adventure than to bring our cameras along for the ride. This series will show you the good, the bad, and the ugly of our journey.
Stills are mostly by Jamie, edited by me. Video (to come) by me.
Supported by @aquabound, @northerncoffeeworks, @angrycatfish, @bowlandkettle, @ombraz

Between Hubs Series 1/3.

Between Hubs.
Back in June my buddy @jamie.cooper24 and I set off on an unconventional adventure in Minnesota’s Northwoods. Our goal was to connect the two major hubs of the BWCA, Ely and Grand Marais, via an off-the-beaten-trail route using bicycles and pack rafts. While the BWCA is an incredible recreational area that I love dearly, we wanted to show that there is equally as much adventure in the amazing public land adjacent to the wilderness area. Many of the watersheds in the area we traversed flow into the pristine BWCA, and there are ongoing threats of copper nickel mining operations to begin in the area (See @savethebwca for more info). Being that both Jamie and I are filmmakers and photographers, what better way to document the adventure than to bring our cameras along for the ride. This series will show you the good, the bad, and the ugly of our journey.
Stills are mostly by Jamie, edited by me. Video (to come) by me.
Supported by @aquabound, @northerncoffeeworks, @angrycatfish, @bowlandkettle, @ombraz

Between Hubs Series 1/3.

50 years.
On this day 50 years ago the Edmund Fitzgerald was tragically lost beneath the waves of Lake Superior. Over the years I have experienced the lake in many of her forms, of which are but a fraction of what occurred that evening. Tonight we remembered the 29 men that went down with the mighty Fitz.

50 years.
On this day 50 years ago the Edmund Fitzgerald was tragically lost beneath the waves of Lake Superior. Over the years I have experienced the lake in many of her forms, of which are but a fraction of what occurred that evening. Tonight we remembered the 29 men that went down with the mighty Fitz.

The Fitz.
50 years ago today the SS Edmund Fitzgerald left Burlington Northern ore dock right down the road in Superior Wisconsin. Departing 70 degree weather on a fluke November day, little did the crew of 29 know they were headed into an equally fluke November storm on the opposite side of Lake Superior. As the storm continued to build to a ferocious level overnight, the Fitz was lost near Whitefish Point along with her 29 men on board the next day, November 10th. Even to this day, reminders of that fateful journey persist. Ships like the Wilfred Sykes and the Arthur M Anderson (of which was last in contact with the Fitz) still haul freight on the Great Lakes, the towering ore dock from which the Fitz left from still stands, and Gordon Lightfoot’s iconic song rings like and anthem. Ceremonies are held yearly across the Great Lakes region, remembering the 29 crew members that went down with their ship. It’s a stark reminder of the power of the big lake.

*this particular footage is from April 2025

The Fitz.
50 years ago today the SS Edmund Fitzgerald left Burlington Northern ore dock right down the road in Superior Wisconsin. Departing 70 degree weather on a fluke November day, little did the crew of 29 know they were headed into an equally fluke November storm on the opposite side of Lake Superior. As the storm continued to build to a ferocious level overnight, the Fitz was lost near Whitefish Point along with her 29 men on board the next day, November 10th. Even to this day, reminders of that fateful journey persist. Ships like the Wilfred Sykes and the Arthur M Anderson (of which was last in contact with the Fitz) still haul freight on the Great Lakes, the towering ore dock from which the Fitz left from still stands, and Gordon Lightfoot’s iconic song rings like and anthem. Ceremonies are held yearly across the Great Lakes region, remembering the 29 crew members that went down with their ship. It’s a stark reminder of the power of the big lake.

*this particular footage is from April 2025

A fun one from last year with the team over at @gearpatrol in partnership with @hoka.
We spent the day running around Minnesota’s northwoods testing out some new products.

A fun one from last year with the team over at @gearpatrol in partnership with @hoka.
We spent the day running around Minnesota’s northwoods testing out some new products.

Some fun ones with @thevwbusexperience

Some fun ones with @thevwbusexperience

The Nopeming Sanatorium opened in 1912 as a hospital for patients with Tuberculosis. At the time, the infectious disease continued to spread with little known about the cure. This spread continued through northern Minnesota, and many were sent to Nopeming. Before the major breakthrough of antibiotics to treat TB in the 1950s, patient’s best chance of navigating the illness was often at a sanatorium. These sanitariums provided fresh air, good food, and sometimes surgery for the patients. As the spread of Tuberculosis declined, the Nopeming Sanatorium was eventually converted into a nursing home in the 1970s before closing its doors in 2002. Since then it’s passed hands multiple times, including a brief stint as a facility providing haunted tours before being deemed structurally unsafe for people. Why haunted tours? Many view this as one of the most haunted areas in Minnesota where over 1,500 souls were laid to rest over its 90 year history.

DISCLAIMER: these images were taken via a drone launched and landed from a public area with a clearing providing visual of the drone during flight. Trespassing on the property is Illegal and unsafe, and I have heard many instances of charges filed for anybody found trespassing.

The Nopeming Sanatorium opened in 1912 as a hospital for patients with Tuberculosis. At the time, the infectious disease continued to spread with little known about the cure. This spread continued through northern Minnesota, and many were sent to Nopeming. Before the major breakthrough of antibiotics to treat TB in the 1950s, patient’s best chance of navigating the illness was often at a sanatorium. These sanitariums provided fresh air, good food, and sometimes surgery for the patients. As the spread of Tuberculosis declined, the Nopeming Sanatorium was eventually converted into a nursing home in the 1970s before closing its doors in 2002. Since then it’s passed hands multiple times, including a brief stint as a facility providing haunted tours before being deemed structurally unsafe for people. Why haunted tours? Many view this as one of the most haunted areas in Minnesota where over 1,500 souls were laid to rest over its 90 year history.

DISCLAIMER: these images were taken via a drone launched and landed from a public area with a clearing providing visual of the drone during flight. Trespassing on the property is Illegal and unsafe, and I have heard many instances of charges filed for anybody found trespassing.

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