Gain inspiration and strategies forged on complex expeditions
Steve Goryl is one of the most experienced outdoor educators in the world. With over 20 years as a lead instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School (N.O.L.S.), Steve has guided students in some of the most challenging environments on Earth - Alaska, Canada, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Mexico, and Argentina. Over his career, Steve has taught more than 1500 students how to achieve objectives in the wilderness while living responsibly and sustainably. He is a certified NREMT, CPR instructor, avalanche safety and cave rescue expert, and N.O.L.S. honored him as a "Master of Outdoor Education" in 2001, one of only 34 instructors to earn this title.
"Master of Outdoor Education" and World Class Adventurer
At a very early age Steve determined that to be a "good citizen" of the Earth, he needed to become experienced in most of the planet's environments. This philosophy led him to reach "Instructor level" in sports involving Land, Sea and Air.
His mountaineering skills were inspired by the early years of the National Outdoor Leadership School under the influence of one of the founders Paul Petzoldt.
He is a U.S. Army veteran and an alumnus of the University of Denver.
He is a member of the American Alpine Club, the Divers Alert Network, the United States Parachute Association and The National Speleological Society.
A lifetime goal of High-Altitude Achievements
- Everest (29,035 ft / Nepal, Asia) – Expedition Leader, Sagarmatha Environmental Expedition (S.E.E. 1994)
- Aconcagua (22,834 ft / Argentina, South America) – Summited 5 times with N.O.L.S. students
- Denali (20,310 ft / Alaska, North America) – Summited once with N.O.L.S. students
- Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft / Tanzania, Africa) – Summited once with a small group of friends
- Elbrus (18,510 ft / Russia, Europe) – Summited once with another N.O.L.S. instructor
- Carstensz Pyramid (16,023 ft / Oceania)
- Vinson Massif (16,067 ft / Antarctica)
From Everest to Enterprise
Steve’s climbs combine adventure, leadership, and environmental stewardship, inspiring students and corporate teams alike. Collaborative leadership and accurate risk assessments most often lead to greater success.
Expedition Experience drives Higher Performance
Steve is a dedicated conservationist and a recognized expert in Leave No Trace principles. The team on the 1994 Sagarmatha Environmental Expedition removed 5,000 pounds of trash from Everest, earning the team the David Brower Award for Environmental Action from the American Alpine Club. He teaches others to climb responsibly, lead with purpose, and protect the planet, turning high-altitude adventure into actionable lessons for life and business.
"Polite conservationists leave no mark save the scars upon the Earth that could have been prevented had they stood their ground."
David Brower
Master of the Three Domains
Steve’s unique skill set makes him a true triple-threat adventurer, capable of teaching teams to excel in any environment. His expertise extends beyond mountains:
Technology & Leadership Beyond the Outdoors
For a decade at N.O.L.S.,. Steve served as the school's System Administrator. He has a very strong preference for UNIX operating systems and advanced hardware. He worked at Sun Microsystems before the acquisition by Oracle. He also received electronics training while serving in the U.S. Army, performing research tasks at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. He specializes in SUN Solaris, Redhat, and Fedora Linux, as well as Apple hardware. He has held secret clearances, contributed to D.O.D. projects, and retired from Washington and Lee University (Computer Science 2020), where he greatly appreciated the tutelage by the professors of the department.
IT Certificates
Red Hat
Apple
Sun Microsystems
Army Security
Veritas
ACME DNS
Adventure Meets Inspiration
Now based in Fort Collins, CO, Steve continues to explore the 14ers, bringing lessons from the peaks, seas, and skies directly to businesses, universities, and organizations across the nation. His presentations combine thrilling stories, actionable leadership insights, and environmental responsibility, inspiring teams to:
