Gabrielle Nelson

themountains

Nov. 25, 2018 - Dec. 25, 2018

Wake up. Oatmeal. Snow gear. To the mountains.

This has been our routine lately. Well, this and parking lot tooth brushin’, gas station hot cocoa, attempting to thaw our freezing toes, and of course, the nightly shuffle. It takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to get the van ready for bed.. and by ready for bed I mean, throw some gear to the front seats, get the curtains up, and start up the wood stove.

Sounds silly, but sometimes I like these little routines; I like having small consistencies amongst a lifestyle of change.. and honestly? I think that’s key. It’s what keeps me healthy. It keeps me going.

//

Memories on film. 120mm.

Featured
peanut & bonnie. somewhere near Moab, UT.

peanut & bonnie. somewhere near Moab, UT.

This is my sis Sophie, but you can call her Slope. She spent her winter break sketching, shredding, and sharing space in the van with me.

This is my sis Sophie, but you can call her Slope. She spent her winter break sketching, shredding, and sharing space in the van with me. Check out her work here: @sketchyslope

Trent at Arches National Park. Last stop before the mountains!

Trent at Arches National Park. Last stop before the mountains!

LOOK MA, WE MADE IT. <3

LOOK MA, WE MADE IT. <3

Breckenridge, CO. Gotta love these cute little mountain towns.

Breckenridge, CO. Gotta love these cute little mountain towns.

PeRmAsToKeD :P

PeRmAsToKeD :P

I got to watch Slope fall in love with snowboarding this season. :] I also got to watch her toes freeze most nights, but mine did too.. So it’s okay. We suffered together.

I got to watch Slope fall in love with snowboarding this season. :] I also got to watch her toes freeze most nights, but mine did too.. So it’s okay. We suffered together.

Sophie at the Dew Tour.

Sophie at the Dew Tour.

Free parking &lt;3

Free parking <3

New friends! This is Matt, Tanya, and Cooper. They shred and also know how to make a bombbb breakfast.

New friends! This is Matt, Tanya, and Cooper. They shred and also know how to make a bombbb breakfast.

Sophie &amp; one of my best friends, Hannah. The three of us are from Illinois, but we just so happened to be in Denver at the same time. :]

Sophie & one of my best friends, Hannah. The three of us are from Illinois, but we just so happened to be in Denver at the same time. :]

This is me, a happy lil egghead. // Shoutout to Trent for da snap.

This is me, a happy lil egghead. // Shoutout to Trent for da snap.

Turns out, film is not the most practical form of photography for those action shots.. but that’s okay. I still like it.

Turns out, film is not the most practical form of photography for those action shots.. but that’s okay. I still like it.

Vanlife: winter edition. A mess, usually.

Vanlife: winter edition. A mess, usually.

moody.

moody.

Trent’s bike has no brakes.

Trent’s bike has no brakes.

Das pretty neat. @_trentcarper_

Das pretty neat. @_trentcarper_

Slope and I warming up &amp; Christmas shopping in Denver before making our way to Illinois for Christmas with the fam.

Slope and I warming up & Christmas shopping in Denver before making our way to Illinois for Christmas with the fam.

//

It’s been cold lately. In the van, I mean.. but I really love this mobile lifestyle. And I really love snowboarding. So I think I’ll stay close to the mountains. I think I’ll keep chasing the dream while defining what exactly that is along the way. Because it feels like something special, something important.. for reasons I’m still uncovering. 

Do you ever feel that? A pull to keep on keepin on?

I don’t know, maybe it is as simple as sacrificing some comfort to do what I love.. but I believe in life’s layers. I believe it goes deeper. So I’m going to make this something bigger. I’m going to be more intentional: using what I’ve already got, building on that, and creating something that lasts. Something that contributes in ways that are bigger than myself.

2019: uncovering the layers

I’m stoked to see what we discover.