Catie Bergman’s top 20 outdoor images of 2020

This year, for the first time in my life, I will have been in the boundaries of Washington state from start to finish. My landscape imagery took a slightly different tone, and I like to think it matched the vibe of 2020— moody, intimate, and unpredictable.

There were predictably sunny camping trips that were cut short due to intense wildfire smoke. There were hikes that involved an uncomfortable amount of sketchy rive crossings. (Life tip: don’t try to cross raging waterfalls if it’s been pouring all day…). And there were those surreal moments when you’re walking through a cloud, and suddenly, the sky clears to a massive mountain sitting in front of you.

2020 has been a lesson in adaptability, and despite its imeasurable lows, I’m trying to find ways to stay thankful. Because even amidst the chaos, there will be moments of clarity, and beyond the smokey haze, there’s a big old blue sky.