Blue Ridge Outside Journal is celebrating one other thrilling 12 months with its annual Journey Critter Pet Picture Contest, the place our area’s furriest explorers compete with their finest photographs of themselves within the open air. Sponsored by Dominion RiverRock, photographs of all adventurous pets had been welcome—furry, feathered, spiked, and even scaley! We acquired tons of of submissions and hundreds of votes for the ten finalists, however one got here out on prime.
We’re excited to announce the winner of this 12 months’s contest is Devi and her proprietor, Andrea! The successful picture shall be in our June print concern of 2024.
The runner-ups for this 12 months’s contest are Luna and her proprietor Sandy coming in second place, and Rio and Penny with their proprietor Olivia in third place! We caught up with the victors to get to know the story behind the whiskers and the place these furry trailblazers are exploring subsequent.
1st Place: Devi and Photographer Andrea Johnston
A sassy and loving hound combine, Devi was simply eight weeks previous when she got here into Andrea’s life, who had not too long ago gone by way of her candy aged rescue canine passing away. Again in June 2023, a good friend of a good friend reached out to Andrea saying three puppies had been discovered on a close-by interstate ramp, one in every of them who would quickly go by the title of Devi.
“I’ve all the time let my rescue canine discover me,” Andrea says. “My good friend instantly instructed me in regards to the 3 puppies being discovered on the interstate ramp. I knew instantly one in every of them was supposed to return dwelling with me and rushed to fulfill them. [Devi] climbed in my lap and put her head on my coronary heart. It was love at first sight.”
Since coming into one another’s lives the 2 have gone on many adventures. They started climbing collectively when Devi was younger to get her used to it, and now it’s their favourite pastime collectively—particularly locations which have rocks to hop on and sand to dig in for Devi. The successful picture captures a type of particular hikes collectively.
“This was such an thrilling day for us,” Andrea describes the day the successful picture was taken. “It was one in every of Devi’s first actual waterfall hikes to one in every of my favourite locations, Crabtree Falls. Despite the fact that she appears to be like full measurement within the picture, she was solely a bit of over 4 months previous. The path was fairly busy, as ordinary, however by some means, I managed to get that shot with nobody in it. Devi completely cherished assembly new pals and taking part in on the rocks.”
Individuals can comply with alongside their adventures on Instagram by following Devi’s account @devi_isababy.
“She is such a candy and enjoyable lady and I really feel so fortunate to have her in my life,” Andrea says. “I already really feel like I’ve all the time recognized her.”
2nd Place: Luna and Photographer Sandy Ponce
On March 26, 2023 after an surprising cease on the native animal shelter, proprietor Sandy adopted a tiny one pound kitten on the spot and the adventures of Luna started! A sassy, spunky, and spicy one 12 months previous tuxedo kitten right now, Luna likes to go on hikes and climb timber along with her household. The 2nd place picture captures one in every of her adventures close to the North Carolina entrance signal to Nice Smoky Mountain Nationwide Park.
“She cherished leaping and climbing over the downed timber and enormous rocks,” Sandy says. “She likes to play anyplace there are timber for her to climb and birds watch, particularly my mother and father dwelling within the mountains of WNC. One among our favourite reminiscences was the primary time she skilled snow and she or he didn’t know what to make of it!”
Comply with the adventures of Luna on her Instagram and Tik Tok @luna_gataluntica.
third Place: Rio and Penny with Photographer Olivia Dannemiller
Journey duo Rio and Penny like to journey—kayaking, tenting, rafting, mountain biking, paddle boarding, or climbing, you title it, these pups like to go exterior and play. Siblings from totally different litters, Rio got here into Olivia’s life 5 years in the past and Penny 4. Loaded with vitality, they particularly like to run alongside their proprietor’s mountain bikes as they trip. The third place picture captures one in every of their adventures to Massive Bald on the border of NC/TN. After an thrilling 14 mile hike to the open bald, they had been operating and leaping by way of the fields.
“Penny resembles a deer leaping by way of the fields,” Olivia says. “We go throughout Western North Carolina. One among our favourite reminiscences is rafting down Frank Bell’s fast on part 9 of the French Broad after we did an in a single day camp rafting journey. We additionally do an in a single day backpacking journey in Linville Gorge yearly and Penny helps carry each her and Rio’s meals and provides.”
This 12 months’s Journey Critter Pet Picture Contest sponsor is none apart from Dominion Vitality Riverrock! Taking place in Richmond, Virginia from Might 19-21, this occasion is all about getting exterior and becoming a member of within the enjoyable.
With in-person occasions, scavenger hunts, multi-adventure alternatives and races, and pop-ups all through your entire weekend—there are many methods to participate!
Lace up your path sneakers, seize your paddles, cost your digicam, and pump up your tires…these are three super-charged days! Be taught extra right here: https://www.riverrockrva.com/
Cowl picture: Profitable picture of the 2024 Journey Critter Pet Picture Contest of Devi.
