Fluidr / Jaime A Ballestero's favorites

Would you believe this epic windblown sandy desert valley place is in the Yukon? At the end of summer 2023, I spent a month living out of my car and camping in the mountains up in northern Canada, and I was honestly blown away by the diversity of the landscapes. From snow-capped peaks and glaciers, to jagged black spiky mountains, volcanic lands where I swear dragon still live, to thousands of miles of endless tundra and boreal forests… to dry, sand-filled deserts?!

I was not expecting to stumble upon this place in my time up north, but wow, am I glad I did. I may have gotten totally sand-blasted in the wind for this photo (…and for days after I was literally finding sand *everywhere*, ha!) - but it was so worth it, running around like a kid who found a cool stick and became a wise wizard and decided to embark on a magical quest across the desert lands to the far off mountains and into the sunset.

Yep, it’s in these silly, beautiful moments that I become filled with gratitude and realize… the adventure-filled storybook life I used to always live in my imagination? I’m living it now. We can choose to live it now. One beautiful, childlike, sand-filled adventurous moment at a time.

Tags: Yukon Canada Kluane National Park self portrait nature landscape desert dust sunset mountains woman girl sand gold light