Our Team
Peyton Hinn | President
Peyton moved back to the Black Hills area after completing her BS in Biology from Dickinson State University. She plans on nursing school in the coming year. She can be found romping around the Black Hills in her van with her husband and their dogs Cu & Niah.
Matt Scherer | Vice President
Bio.
Brian Tuttle | Treasurer
Bio.
John Lang | Secretary
A long time Black Hills climber (10+ years), John is motivated to stay involved in the climbing community during this important time of policy development. John grew up with the Hills in his backyard and always wanted to be involved in conversations that will have a lasting impact on climbing in the Black Hills.
Kirsten Ruen | Publicist
Kirsten first started climbing in the Black Hills in 2019 and was hooked - she became an official resident of Custer in 2021 along with her husband, Ian. Preserving the beauty and accessibility of our climbing areas is near and dear to her heart. Outside of climbing, Kirsten stays busy raising her son, Charlie, keeping up with the area locals and roaming the outdoors.
Ron Yahne | Co-Member at Large
Ron grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota & started climbing in 1972! He helped start the BHCC in 1991 and received the “Menocal Life Time Achievement Award” from the Access Fund in 2018 for his leadership in the Black Hills climbing community and for being at the forefront of one of the longest-running and most successful bolt replacement programs in the country.
Mark Rafferty | Co-Member at Large
Mark Rafferty, a 28-year-old native of the Black Hills, has spent his life climbing in the southern hills of Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, and the Black Elk Wilderness. When not challenging himself with outdoor climbing pursuits, Mark is either immersed in nursing school or enjoying quality time with his wife and their two dogs in their campervan.
Chris Hirsch | Bolting Repair Committee Chair
Climbing since 2002, he recognized how special the Black Hills are and moved here in 2009 to forever explore and develop. When he doesn’t have to work as a local contractor, he’s usually out bolting new routes and fixing old ones, building bouldering landings, hiking/trail running, and mountain biking. Chris is proud to be involved in the BHCC route repair efforts and finding the most sustainable methods possible.