I went to the Dolomites in 2015, arguably the most aesthetic mountains on earth, and this photo of Nat Segal was my favorite capture of the entire trip. Another reminder that you can travel across the world to chase the biggest lines and most jagged peaks, but good light wins every time. Photo: Zoya Lynch

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Zoya Lynch Dives Headfirst

When she was just three years old, Zoya Lynch’s parents made a choice that would shape the rest of her life. Along with three other families, the Lynches decided to jump on an opportunity to build a backcountry lodge in the Canadian Rockies. “They had zero backcountry experience and four little kids, but they were super keen and thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Lynch says.  Lynch and her siblings were suddenly along for the ride as her parents learned to navigate avalanche terrain, operate equipment and ski tour.

The Amiskwi Lodge, north of Golden, BC, became a formative part of Lynch’s youth and would remain in the family until 2023. “The main adventure was getting there,” she recalls. After a three-hour drive from their home in Calgary, AB, her family would jump on “old, crappy” snowmobiles that often broke down. They would then ride 28 miles up remote backcountry logging roads and ski tour the last steep mile.

The youngest of four siblings, Lynch’s memories of playing in the lodge and putting on puppet shows are equally as fond as the time she spent exploring the surrounding alpine terrain with her family. But it was those outdoor adventures that created a basis for her career as an action sports photographer. She credits that upbringing with her comfort and ease in mountain environments, vital qualities for the expeditions she documents.


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