(Credit: Amanda Tromp/Goldilocks and the Wolf)
It’s a fairy tale unfolding before our very eyes: From the snow-capped peaks to the turquoise lakes of Washington, an adventurer and her adoring companion travel the U.S., enthralling tens of thousands.
The story began when Amanda Tromp, 22, of Seattle met her best friend, a wooly-coated Siberian husky puppy named Kyro. Little did she know, he was about to change her life in ways she deemed unfathomable.
Tromp was in an abusive relationship when Kyro entered the picture. As the abuse turned to the pup, it opened her eyes and led her to leave for good, revealing a world full of possibilities and healing.
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She began to rebuild her world around her blue-eyed companion and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, a journey that would lead to the creation of Goldilocks and the Wolf Photography.
Kyro as a puppy. The wooly-coated Siberian husky has been on many an adventure with his best friend.
Tromp told weather.com that huskies are full of energy and need plenty of time outside, which led to a lot of hiking and documenting nature through photography. The idea began simply with a Samsung cell phone before blossoming into a full-blown vocation, complete with a professional camera and the picturesque backdrops of the Pacific Northwest.
As months went by and the pair's Instagram following grew, the natural world became their beacon of hope, a place of solace, where Amanda discovered her new purpose in life, "giving people a reason to smile for the day."
Her wish to do just this created a handful of memories, including one on a crisp, snowy morning. Tromp and Kyro took off for a hike in the Washington state Cascade mountain rangenear Stevens Pass Ski Resort before ski season began. The path was treacherous, with snow reaching to Tromp’s thighs. After an exhausting trek, they came to a sight they won’t soon forget.
“When we reached the ledge, the sun came up and shone through the snow fog with several colors illuminating the sky. It was a very surreal moment.”
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For Tromp, it was moments like these that revealed the powerful healing of nature in the myriad of rugged and beautiful surroundings.
Amanda and Kyro are nigh inseparable and have inspired tens of thousands around the world.
"You feel really small in a good way; you need that feeling to reconnect with the world," she said. "If you go out and have those moments, it’s really enlightening."
Nature wasn't all she connected to. Her relationships with others grew, as well, with Kyro proving to be the ultimate teacher. His outgoing personality and bright, ethereal eyes spoke to hikers they met on their journeys, and Tromp said that eased her into new interactions she'd not been able to form after the abuse she endured.
But while this story seems to be uplifting on the surface, Tromp has had to deal with online harassment when sharing her story. With her growing popularity, Tromp took a stand and speaks out against cyber bullying and works to promote positivity.
"Going back into nature gave me a sense of belonging again, a sense of purpose," she said.
And it is safe to say, that purpose has given others a reason to smile.
For more on Kyro, Amanda and her stunning photography, visit her Instagram and Facebook pages.
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