Scroll through the contestants who have made it to the quarter-finals of the Ultimate Explorer contest, and you'll spot people sky diving, gazing into the middle distance on a mountaintop, and a few holding up fish.
But not Squamish resident Karla Johnson.
"I submitted three photos," she said. "[One is] a headshot on the mountain with my mouth wide open and goggles on."
But tucked behind that goofy adventure pic are images of a trip to Alaska, including one from a snow cave.
"I love winter sports and summer too," she said. "I did do one adventurous, really amazing expedition and I threw a few of those shots up there. I did a season in Alaska and ended up spending two weeks on the Yentna Glacier in a snow cave. It was storming the whole time."
The winner of the contest—chosen by votes—will win $10,000, hop in a Winnebago RV to visit a National Park, and appear in Outside Magazine.
"I saw [the contest] on Facebook and thought it would be fun to enter," Johnson said. "It sounds really fun and exciting and why wouldn't we want to go on a road trip to visit these National Parks?"
Thanks to votes from friends and family, Johnson has made it to the quarter-finals. The contest will move to the next round after Thursday, Oct. 3.
"There's a few more rounds to go," she said.
As part of the submission, applicants have to answer a few questions, including what National Park they dream of visiting.
Johnson's answer: Sequoia National Park. "My daughter's name is Sequoia. But also, the giant cedars. Who doesn't want to see those?" she said.
If nothing else, the contest—which is operated by Colossal.org, a registered charity that grants donations to the National Park Foundation—has had the added perk of prompting Johnson to research different National Parks in Canada and the U.S.
"It got me Google searching all these different National Parks and amazing landscapes and places I've never been to," she said. "I think it's fantastic and exciting and really fun."
You can vote for Johnson in the quarter-finals every 24 hours until 7 p.m. on Oct. 3. Then check back to see if she's made it to the next round.
"I feel grateful to my friends and family who have gone on every day to vote," she said. "My feed is all Ultimate Explorer."
To see her submission and vote, visit ultexplorer.org/2024/karla-johnson.
