20 things I'm thankful for in 2020

It’s become a bit of a trend to call 2020 a dumpster fire. Not a day goes by this time of year without reading a post including a collectively agreed upon truth that 2020 was/is the worst. Everywhere you look people are counting down the days until 2020 is over and we can move on from this shit show (as if the global pandemic will magically end at midnight on the 31st and everyone will get their jobs, health, and loved ones back).

Looking at the big picture, yeah, the world is not in a great place. A LOT of people are suffering and dying RIGHT NOW because of COVID-19. Human influenced climate change has the state of our natural world spiralling closer and closer to the point of no repair. Racism, homophobia and transphobia, sexism, and other forms of bigotry in our communities, workplaces, and governments are still senseless realities.

It is no surprise that my pal Kiwi sold out of these ornaments almost immediately. https://craftboner.com

I don’t want to dismiss these things as unimportant, but you also don’t need me to remind you of them. And you don’t need me to tell you about the 100 other things that didn’t work out in my favour this year. Every year, things in my personal life and career go up and down. I get a new job. I experience a break up. I miss out on an opportunity. I make a new friend. If you break it down to the individual day to day moments and decisions, this year really wasn’t that much different from all the ones before it. Sure the hurdles look different and are more universally felt for the first time in a while, but they’re still, in my life of incredible privilege, just that.

Like every year before it, 2020 was one of growing, changing, and adapting. It was one full of love, joy, and literal mountaintops. It had its challenges and hard days, ones where getting out of bed was my biggest accomplishment, but those are never to overshadow the successes and good ones.

Here are 20 things I’m grateful for in 2020.

1. Camping at Halfway Hotsprings

One of my first adventures in 2020 was an overnight winter camping trip at Halfway Hotsprings. Bryce and I loaded up our packs and hiked 12km of logging road to get there, but my goodness it was worth the slog. Hallmark movie snow fell all around us as we enjoyed the natural hot pools to ourselves and celebrated Bryce’s move to this magical place that is the inland temperate rainforest of BC. You can read more about our experience here.

2. Ice Climbing with the ACC

In February, after our first month of long distance, I met Bryce in the mountains for an ice climbing trip with the Alpine Club of Canada Saskatchewan Section. Bryce was a leader on the trip and it was my first time trying the sport. It was a lot more difficult than I imagined, but also a lot of fun! Plus it was great getting to hang out in a hostel full of nearly 30 new friends - if only I knew then what a privilege that would be now! My favourite moment was on the second day, when I got up early to carry ropes with Bryce and another leader to the top of a 30m waterfall. The two of them built anchors to set up the routes and we then rappelled down the falls to join the rest of the group for a day of climbing. Even though this basic skill is all too familiar to me now, at the time I had just learned how to rappel and there was significant anxiety backing up over that ledge. It seems silly to me now, 10 months later, to get excited or nervous about rapping anything, but it’s always a bit of a rush doing something new in the mountains! See more from this trip here.

3. Attending WPPI in Las Vegas with Sik Pics

Less than a week later I was on a flight to Las Vegas with Chris and Kirsten from Sik Pics Photo and Video for an international wedding and portrait photography conference. Oh to remember a time when this was a conceivable thing to do!

The conference was awesome and I’m so thankful it was able to happen before the world shut down. I learned a lot from different speakers and workshops and was re-motivated about my work and business. The biggest benefit, however, was getting to meet and spend time with some way out-of-my-league photographers who I continue to connect with and be inspired by to this day. I also can’t think of a better time to party in Vegas than right on the cusp of a world-wide pandemic…

4. Pre-pandemic clients

Just before the scope of the pandemic set in here in Canada, I had the opportunity to work with a few wonderful clients. This included a branding session for artist Alex Alieko, which was one of my most meaningful branding sessions to date - see more from it here. After that I got a call from a friend of a former wedding client, asking me to photograph his proposal. This shoot also became very special to me, as it was a reminder of love being present while the reality of COVID set in. Take a look here. Lastly I worked on an edit of video footage I captured at the Napatak Ramble Music Festival the previous summer to announce their 2020 lineup. Unfortunately the festival took on a different look this year, but it was fun to stretch my video muscles a little bit and work on something I don’t do often.

5. Spending the first lockdown in Revelstoke

When things started shutting down in mid-March, I was in Revelstoke visiting Bryce. I had a choice to make - drive home to Saskatoon like I had planned (and maybe still get to take the lead climbing course I was signed up for at Grip It), or stay in Revelstoke for a few more days. I’m so glad I made the decision to wait it out with Bryce, as I had no idea it would span months instead of days! That time was full of personal struggles and learning curves as Bryce and I figured out how to live together 24/7, but it only strengthened our relationship and brought us closer together. In addition to getting to be with my partner, spending this time in Revelstoke meant I got to be immersed in the mountains everyday. While the transitioning seasons and various site closures meant we couldn’t visit every spot we wanted to, access to nature was still infinitely simpler than if I had been in the city. Here are some film photos I took to document this time.

6. Portraits in a Pandemic

While other photographers were quick to jump on the front porch portraits trend, and I would have loved to join, I didn’t have a network of people in Revelstoke to reach and photograph. Instead, I approached individuals and families on our daily walks around the neighbourhood and took stranger’s portraits. I didn’t stick with it as long as I planned, but it served it’s purpose for me for a time in helping me feel like I had some sense of purpose. You can view these photos here.

During this time our landlord (who lives above us) had his kids and their mom staying with him. I would watch them play in the front yard almost every day, so one morning I asked if I could photograph them. It’s always a little nerve wracking asking someone if I can take their photo, but it’s also almost always worth it. This session was super fun and helped build more of a relationship between us and our landlord and his family. Have a look here.

7. My First Pandemic Clients

As restrictions began to loosen and things started opening up again, we made the drive back to Saskatchewan so I could catch up on a few shoots. These clients not only trusted me to take the photos they needed, but also to keep them safe in the process. It was a weird feeling, having my first real shoots after months on pause, but it felt so good to get back to what I love.

One of these shoots was to produce more product photos for Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds. I love getting to use my studio set up on this project and it’s great to have built such an easy working relationship with this return client.

8. Paddling and Guiding the Paul River with friends and clients

In addition to work and visiting family, part of this trip to Saskatchewan was to join some friends on a canoe trip down the Paull River. I had done this same trip the year before and was excited to share my love for paddling in the North with Bryce. We had a fantastic time and when we stopped to say hi to friends at Churchill River Canoe Outfitters on our way home, the owner asked me if I’d like to co-guide the trip with one of his new employees a week later.

I was thrilled to be able to gain more experience in leadership on the water. To make it even better, I became great friends with the woman I was working with and our clients were fabulous. They were eager to get after as much white water as possible which meant my paddling skills continued to improve as well. I’ll be sure to finally share more about these trips in detail soon!

9. Learning to Climb Outdoors

I started indoor rock climbing last fall, but being in the mountains this summer allowed me to transition from top-rope climbing on gym holds in a controlled environment to lead climbing bolted routes on real rock. At first I really missed challenging myself in gym climbing because we were being very conservative with the level of climbs we chose outside. As I progressed with my clipping and belaying technique we were able to attempt more difficult grades and my love and excitement for the sport quickly returned. We spent many afternoons at crags around Revelstoke and had a few days with friends in Canmore as well. We even completed my first multi-pitch there! I am so lucky to have a partner who is able to teach me along the way so that we can continue to find new adventures together.

10. Mountaineering Trip to the Neil Colgan Hut with ACC Sask

In 2019, shortly after I met Bryce, he set out on a mountaineering trip with some friends from the Alpine Club of Canada Saskatchewan Section. It sounded like an awesome adventure, but I did not have the skills or fitness needed to join. “Next year,” Bryce told me. He made the hut booking in the winter, and as summer came and COVID seemed to be temporarily at bay, he opened up the intermediate trip to club members. I was still very much a beginner, but Bryce assured me I could handle it.

The trip began with a hike around Moraine Lake towards Mt. Fay, across a river and up into the alpine. There we faced a few climbing sections before moving onto a glacier to traverse to the hut. The next day we crossed the glacier again to ascend onto the ridge and traverse a long 4th class scrambling section to the summit. We returned to the hut for another night before making our way back down to the lake in the morning.

As my first time mountaineering, I definitely faced my share of challenges on this trip. Most of them were in my head though, as even though I felt incredibly inadequate for the objective, I completed it with minimal issues. There was one section of steep glacier travel that nearly got the best of me, but my biggest problem was my slow pace and the internal feeling that I should be faster. Overall I really enjoyed this weekend and I’m very proud of myself for completing the route.

11. Attending my Sister’s Wedding in Winnipeg

My sister was meant to get married in June, but the pandemic pushed things back. In the end she was able to plan a beautiful wedding at an old estate in Winnipeg with 40 guests. Bryce and I were both able to attend, along with my parents and brother and his wife and kids. It had been a while since we’d had all 10 of us in one place and it was wonderful getting to come together for an entire weekend to celebrate Kelsey and Jonny’s marriage, especially after our Disney holiday in April got cancelled and we are unable to gather this December for Christmas.

12. Taking my niece camping

As an early birthday gift to my now 6 year old niece, Lucy, we went on a little camping trip together! We drove a half hour out of Saskatoon to Pike Lake Provincial Park to spend her first night outside in a tent. The park is full of things to keep a 6 year old busy - we spent the afternoon swimming in the lake, paddle boating, making a fire and cooking supper (and s’mores, her new favourite) as well as some time playing at the park before bed. It took a while before she settled down in the tent but in the morning she said she loved sleeping in it! We were up early to play at another playground before going swimming at the pool - the one thing Lucy was most excited for! It was such a fun little trip and I’m so happy for the time we got to spend together. Nobody else in our family is into camping and I look forward to sharing this special activity with my niece for years to come.

13. Guiding for Flexpeditions

Somewhat by chance, this spring I was told about Amy Flexman and her outdoor adventure and education company Flexpeditions. I reached out to her about guiding opportunities and though many of her programs are on hold due to the pandemic, she was eager to get me on board with local kids day camps and canoe days. Not only was this an amazing opportunity to build connections with a guiding company in town while learning about the local waterways, it also allowed me to make some friendships in Revelstoke. In a new city during a time when socializing is next to forbidden, these connections have been my saving grace.

In the fall, work transitioned into facilitating with the Revelstoke After School Society, where we provide outdoor after school care for kids in kindergarten to grade 4. While caring for young children isn’t exactly where I expected my career to be right now, it’s something that is serving me for the interim and will help get me where I want to be in the future.

14. Photographing 4 Weddings!

Somehow I was still able to photograph the weddings of 4 couples this summer! 2 were booked through my friends at Sik Pics and 2 were my own clients. That number is way down from recent years, but I was thrilled about it given in our current circumstances. I’m so happy these couples were able to have such beautiful, intimate gatherings to celebrate their love. You can take a look at one of them here.

15. Hiking the MacKenzie-Cartier Traverse

Bryce decided we should do this overnight traverse in late August after hearing about his co-workers completing it one day on mountain bikes. He slightly underestimated its difficulty and after reaching our camping spot in the dark the first evening we realized this 42km trek up and down wildflower meadows and alpine ridges was going to take a lot longer than he thought. It was one of the most difficult hikes I’ve done to date, primarily because my body was already drained from the previous few weeks of a packed schedule.

By the end of the 16 km and 2000 vertical metre decent of Mt. Cartier the next night, I was literally hobbling to the car in the dark. My body was so tired and my feet were in a ridiculous amount of pain (my big toenails are currently hanging on by a thread because of damage done on this hike). Bryce even carried my pack for over 7 kilometres that day because I just couldn’t move at a decent pace.

Though I didn’t always keep my cool during this experience, I am proud of completing it and am happy to have learned from it. I now know that I am able to get through things that at times seem impossible, and also how vital it is to take some time to recharge before a big trip like this. Bringing an extra meal was another important lesson, as is starting earlier that we think we need to. The trip also reinforced the fact that Bryce is ridiculously strong and capable, doesn’t love it when I throw things out of frustration, and will always be there to hold me while I cry.

The traverse was a massive undertaking but there were smiles along the way. The views were so amazing that we already have plans to do it again next year - though this time in 3 days instead of 2. Maybe then we’ll also be able to fit in a couple of the summits along the way like Bryce had initially planned.

I haven’t developed my film from that weekend yet, but here are some incredible photos that Bryce captured.

16. Mt. Begbie Summit Trip

The following weekend we set out on a mission to reach the summit of Mount Begbie, which had been teasing us all summer as we admired its ridges from our couch. After my subpar performance the week before, I was so intimidated by the 2,000 metres of elevation gain that I didn’t even pack a camera to save on weight! Surprisingly, I felt awesome on the trail to camp that Saturday and I wasn’t even (too) bothered that it was 3km further than the sign said.

We had the primitive camping area at the tree line to ourselves that night and managed to stay dry in our single-walled tent during an intense rain and wind storm. The glacier travel, ridge walk, and alpine scramble Sunday morning was simple yet super fun. It took longer than anticipated but we were in high spirits when we returned to camp to pack up and head home. It was an awesome overnighter that we’re eager to make an annual event out of.

17. Paid photo work in Revelstoke

It’s one type of difficult to move a service based business to an entirely new market across the country, and it’s a whole new level to do so during a pandemic. So you can imagine my celebration when I landed my first photo gigs in my new city! Both clients found me through my website which is a welcomed affirmation that all these blog posts are worth it! Click below to see photos from the two shoots!

BFF’s Lindsay and Crystal

Newly engaged Spencer and Kelsey

18. Bikes and Hikes

While I had a number of epic adventures throughout the summer, something that really kept me going this year has been simple bike rides around town and hikes on our local trails. Being right in the middle of such an extensive trail network is an amazing privilege and I am so grateful for the access to the outdoors that we have living in Revelstoke.

19. Snowboarding

Already in the past month I have put in more days on a snowboard (even if just for a couple runs) than any other season. I’m sure that by the end of the year, if you look at 2020 as a whole, it will surpass the total number of days I’ve ever gone snowboarding (since my first time at a prairie valley hill in grade 5). That’s wild for me to think about - I can wake up any day and say, “yeah, I’m going to go snowboarding,” and then be riding at the mountain in under an hour. What is my life?? I’ve always struggled to enjoy snowboarding, because I never thought I was good enough. I was too slow and would get scared easily. I’m not sure what kept me going, but I’m glad I haven’t given up. I still have my bad days, still get super nervous on steep parts, and am still the slowest one in the group, but I’ve learned to love the sport. I appreciated the challenges it brings up in me and how it’s consistently shaping me into a better rider and person. And I love that it gets me outside enjoying the sunshine when it’s all too easy to spend the few hours of daylight we do have inside working on the computer.

20. Bryce

If I could only be thankful for one thing this year, it would be him. My world flipped the moment Bryce became a part of it and that couldn’t make me happier. I could go on for days about what I love about him and the influence he’s had in my life this year, but it’s not hard to understand based on his involvement in all the items above. Bryce is my biggest supporter and teacher and there really isn’t anyone I would rather live through a global pandemic with than him. THANK YOU.

What are some things you’re thankful for as you look back on 2020? Maybe it’s a new skill you learned (baking bread, anyone?) or having a loved one close by to keep you sane. Or maybe it’s just the fact that you’re still here and still breathing. I’d love to hear some things that make you smile as you reflect on the wild year we’ve had.