New Zealand!

I am in New Zealand! Please check out my tumblr blog for the most current updates!

The Goose is Loose

It's been a rainy May in Utah. Headed south to Gooseberry Mesa to try and dry out. The road was still a little slick the night we got there. But if you ask me (and my Subaru)... that equals F-U-N! Yeeah!










It's a moose. We named him Goose. He came from the town of Beaver. True story.










A weekend spent biking, camping, and hanging with friends is a weekend good for the soul. And staring at the southern Utah eye candy of cliffs around Zion doesn't hurt either.









You may recognize Tanya from such places as the October 2010 cover of Backcountry Magazine. What? The desert bears no resemblance!? Weird.

Tumbling

Exploring this world of Tumblr.... I know... another blog seems silly... but I thought I should work it out and see how it goes over there.... so far some good quotes and links and short reactions and I can keep the blogspot here to news and thoughts that are just Re Wikstrom Photography... let's give it a go: www.ReWikstrom.tumblr.com

Surviving in a wind storm.

I was honestly, legitimately, and truly concerned that my tent would lift up with me inside and slam into the wall of boulders on the east side of our campsite.

We (Backcountry.com) were doing a photoshoot and gear test in the east sierra a couple weeks ago just outside of Bishop (BEAUTIFUL place by the way!)

It was quite the sleepless night but I am happy to say that I (and my tent) awoke in one piece. I can not say that most of the other tents fared the same. Or my aluminum camp table that was lifted over 15 feet of boulder / rock wall and deposited, in a few bent up pieces, in a heap of sage brush 50 feet on the other side of that wall.

This is the sunrise calm after the storm.

Reflections on Pro Photo Showdown: Part 1 of ?

Initial Reaction: INCREDIBLE! And did I really just get interviewed by MTV Canada? Or did I just get "punked?"

The whole experience start to finish was amazing. What an honor to be a finalist among Blake Jorgenson, Brynn Hughes, Russel Dalby, Mike Yoshida, and Steve Lloyd!

As a young intern with Powder and Bike Magazines I can recall ooogling over slide and print submissions from Blake and Bryn (yes, pre digital takeover). The first year I moved to Utah I remember going to see an inspiring slide show of Steve's. And my first summer out west was spent living in an a-frame with 9 people at the bottom of Mt Hood shooting camp photos for Windells (and High Cascade) with my roommates, one of which was the awesomely funny, talented, and great all around guy, Mike Yoshida who has gone on to work for K2 snowboards and now as associate PE for Snowboarder Mag. And not to leave out Russell... I was not familiar with his work before the show, but his bio was funny, and he's a staff photog for Snowboard Canada, and after his slideshow I am a BIG fan! So... to reiterate... HOW AMAZING to be a finalist alongside them all!

As a young photographer now living in Salt Lake City, Utah and holding down a full time job with Backcountry.com (strangely, I was unable to find work in a restaurant, hmmm....) I have much to juggle in the way of my job with bc.com and my personaal ski shooting, editing, processing, submitting, marketing, invoicing, sleeping (what's that?), and taking time for myself to just ski, or bike, or generally explore this natural world. My budgets are small. The most exotic places I traveled to this year were Terrace and Smithers in northern BC, Canada. The most exotic place I have ever been is Las Lenas Argentina and that was 5 years ago, and we didn't much leave the beaten gringo path. But on this limited budget, I do find extreme joy in documenting what IS unique about the places we would ordinarily brush off as just another North American town and the joy that traveling with and meeting good people can bring. While I would love to explore some far away places, people, and cultures, it is amazing what you can find in your own backyard. So... to reiterate again... HOW AMAZING to be a finalist!

A fun interview with Doglotion.com whipped up by The International Woman of Mystery (some may know her as Holly Walker, others have only heard legendary legends of far off travel).

A Ski Library!?

Passing through the small town of Sandpoint, ID I added Schweitzer to my list of places to visit (little did I know at the time, that I would be going back a week later -win!)

Fernie, BC to Golden, BC (to ski Kicking Horse)

Martha pointed out this natural spring so we filled up. Tasty water for sure!













It had been a LOOOOOONG time since I saw the sun. I started freaking out at the sight of this beautiful post-storm lighting and had to pull over and take a photo. SO BEAUTIFUL!











This Kokanee has a trail map of Whistler on it. I bought it to celebrate my entry in to the Pro Photo Showdown!!!

And cheers to Sue for letting us crash her lovely house, and everyone else for being great in general!








When in Canada and looking to do things that are decidedly Canadian, one must visit a good ol' TImmy Ho's. Martha and I stopped on the drive to Golden to play the RRRoll up game. I told Martha if I won the car, she could have it. So when she won a coffee, she gave it to me for the drive out of Golden and on to Schweitzer. Thanks lady! Much appreciated!

Pro Photographer Showdown! Finalist!

Wow oh wow! I attended the OLYMPUS Pro Photographer Showdown last year and thought maybe I could make it in the next 5 years or so, but I decided to go ahead and enter this year. A week later I got a phone call asking me to call them back. I thought, "oh no, I hope the slideshow format worked! I hope there wasn't a problem with the submission!" but no, it turns out they wanted to tell me I was chosen as a finalist! HIGH FIVE! I immediately called my boyfriend, my parents, and my brother to share the incredible news. I happened to be driving all day from Bellingham to Fernie so I then had lots of time to myself. 15 to 20 minutes later I was already getting nervous about standing up there, literally center stage, under the ring of screens. It is a CRAZY mix of nervous anxiety, major excitement, and supreme honor just to be a finalist and have the opportunity to show my photos at this event. SO AMAZING!

The official announcement from the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival was made yesterday. I am so excited to now share the news with everyone! See you in Whistler!!!

Interview in the Backcountry Beacon

A little love from Backcountry.com in the Backcountry Beacon!

Yesterday's Drive to Fernie!

Checking in from Smithers, BC

2 weeks down, 4 to go. So far, I have had amazing ski days at Tyax, Shames, NEH, and Hudson Bay. Today is suppose to be our last day in Smithers, BC, but we are trying to extend our stay for one extra day. Wish we could stay an extra week!

Next stop: Smithers, BC!

Frosty trees reminded me of my east coast roots at the top of Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, BC. Holly Walker hops through the winter wonderland. We met some fantastic people, investigated the entrance to an old mine shaft, and skied the community trail to town when we missed the last chair back to the other side of the mountain (where our car was parked). Thanks for the ride back up Tonio! Good times!

Storm day

Ilya Storm works for the Canadian Avalanche Association and we were very happy to have him as our guide at Northern Escape. He helped us stay out of trouble and waited patiently for us to putz around with the camera while I am sure he would rather be doing more of this! I think our guide here got photo of the day! NICE!

Escaping to The North

Putting my new camera pack to the test while Brigid and Holly try to withstand the rotor wash at Northern Escape Heli.

The Clik Elite Contrejour 35 has been a MAJOR improvement over my last pack. These guys actually understand how to build a great photo pack. It's about time!

Powder Wednesday @ Shames!

Holly Walker and Brigid Mander loving life on "Powder Wednesday" at Shames Mountain. The ski area is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and the Snow Gods have been VERY good to them this year.

Flying to Terrace, BC

Gone for a week and don't want to let perfectly good broccoli go to waste. Holly Walker gets excited about her green veggie vitamins waiting for Hawk Air to fly us far north.

Athelstan

Lead Guide and GM at TLH, Cliff Umpleby, hadn't skied the Athelstan Glacier in over 4 years until today. I guess we got here just in time for a pretty good couple days. And by "pretty good..." I should reiterate, the lead guide and GM hadn't skied this glacier for over four years. The snow was good and stable, the holes were filled in, and the scenery was stunning to say the least!

The View...

...from my office today. Thanks to TLH (Tyax Lodge Heliskiing)!

Free Range

Free range horses on the 4 hour drive north from Whistler, BC to Tyax Lodge.

Out of Office Reply:

On the road for the next 6 weeks! YahooOOoOOoOO!