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Gretchen Klens

@gretchen.klens

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Wild Woman. Skier. Artist + Designer.
Mountain pursuits as artform & spiritual practice
Avalanche Educator & Guide - East Coast Avalanche Education

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The most delicious feeling in the world.

I’ve come to realize that sharing mountain experiences with other humans is profoundly enlivening to my spirit. Maybe it’s bc the mountains are simultaneously so empowering and so humbling. So large and majestic that I feel tiny, yet I become so big in my energy of gratitude and connection to the place and people. Recreating in the mountains has a way of lighting me up that not many other experiences do. It’s no wonder why I am so attracted to such intense environments.

Sh*t can get really real out there, mate. After having my first scary sliding fall on Agiocochook this season (more on this later, maybe), I’ve definitely questioned why the heck I do these things. Questions like “Is there something wrong with me that makes me want to put myself in harm’s way?” ran through my head for many days after the accident. Fair questions. It's probably healthy to question these things. Maybe they have some truth to them (lol). But I really feel it’s because I f*cking love skiing in the mountains and the people I get to share it with.

I've had the pleasure of shadowing/skiing with @blakekeogh this season, and wowowow what a beautiful experience we've had! I am so grateful for the friends/mentors/community I’ve met over the years (like Blake) who continuously encourage me into my fullest potential, while offering the space for the wide range of emotions that come up when navigating in consequential terrain. I was able to work through some fears that came up while with Blake this day through deep breaths and his support, and I’m just so dang grateful for that, because this sh*t reallyyyy lights me up.

I hope everyone can walk this Earth with down-to-earth, badass people in their lives who support their flourishing. I’m making a pledge to pass this energy on into the world as I find my place in the outdoor community, and I hope you will too. Let’s get after it (with deep reverence and respect for the lands, waters, and Indigenous people who have cared for these lands for time immemorial)!! 🤘🏼love you! taken in Agiocochook by @gretchen.klens

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2 years ago

recent life flow 🌝 by @gretchen.klens

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3 years ago

peter frampton on vinyl. hot coffee. cozy lighting. plants. so much love. i am blessed! im really excited to share this one with you all!! i love making whimsical, feminine-infused mountain art!! 4 days until the reveal ;) taken in North Conway, New Hampshire by @gretchen.klens

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3 days ago

This coming Wednesdayyyyy (October 21!)! I can’t wait! Sign up now to reserve your spot! This is gonna be a good one! Half the night, we will enjoy a clothing-optional sauna and cold plunge session— after that, we will tap into our intuitive side and draw tarot or oracle cards, share our reflections, and make art based on our readings. I have one tarot deck. Feel free to bring your own cards as well! Also bring comfortable clothes to change into after the sauna, a blanket, and art supplies if you feel like it! I will provide some art supplies, as always. You can register on White Mountain Sauna Haus’s website under the events tab. Please arrive between 5:30 and 6. We lock the doors at 6 to get started with our sauna and cold plunge session. Soooo looking forward to seeing you there! 💃🏽✨ taken in White Mountain Sauna Haus by @gretchen.klens

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5 days ago

A deep and tender moment from a day of solo flow state in the mountains. (it would mean a lot to me if you read my story and stay for the whole 3 minutes) ❣️

i took a quarter tab, ran up huntington ravine to the summit, over to jefferson, back to the west side of the summit, and down tucks.

It was my first bigger day in the mountains since i got super sick in September. I was literally in flow state for like 8 hours straight, danced as much as i ran, and was basking in gratitude for my body, the lands i call home, and my journey of life that has brought me to this moment here.

i’ve been in some really dark places during my time on earth. i lost my dad to cancer when i was in college and went into the deepest darkest place i had ever been at the time. ive had chronic pain and depression so bad i’ve thought about dying. but— i kept going. and im so fucking grateful for that. this moment is one where I got slapped with that gratitude in such a deep way it brought me to tears.

earth is a brutal teacher sometimes. but it’s also heart-explodingly beautiful, magical, brilliant, and loving.

so if you’re in a dark place these days— TRUST— you will get out of it. the earth wants you here. you are love, and you are loved. you are so much more than what has happened to you. things will get better.

cherish this life. it’s a fleeting moment. a blink of an eye. it will change. enjoy where you’re at. and embrace gratitude.

I guess I’m advocating for life right now. Not like the pro life way (lol noooo) but like the “choose life” way— where I encourage us to embrace life, to FEEL DEEPLY, and to STAY ALIVE.

IT’S A MAGICAL FREAKING WORLD OUT THERE. LOVE YOU taken in White Mountains, NH by @gretchen.klens

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6 days ago

yeah this is where im at today #wildwoman #entrepreneurlife #artist by @gretchen.klens

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7 days ago

HEAT & BEATS 🔥🧊🎶

Man, this was special.

I’ve spent the last few years thinking a lot about what wellness actually looks like when you bring it out of the treatment room, out of the gym, out of the yoga studio, and put it where it belongs…

With PEOPLE.

Heat & Beats felt like that idea coming to life.

We breathed together. We did yoga. We hit the sauna and cold plunge. We had bodywork. We ate good food. We met new people, had real conversations, connected…

And then, yes…

WE FUCKING RAVED. 😂🔥

Hundreds of people moving through @letsbanya , experiencing wellness in completely different ways, and eventually ending up on the same dance floor together.

That’s my kind of wellness.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who trusted me and joined me in bringing the wellness side of this thing to life.

@maxmalila and @flow_thyself for the breath
@chloegroudas for the yoga
@maine_spa_club
@shiftingtidesnh
@ak_fst
@tempr.ma
@themobilesaunacompany

And to @saludne and @the__juicery for keeping everybody fed and fueled, and @naturalrocks for icing us down.

Huge love to @sender_land , @letsbanya, @portsmouthraveproject , @theangelsmediaarts , and everyone else who helped dream this up and turn Banya into something completely different for a night.

One of my favorite parts of Dr. BeeWell has always been bringing good people together.

People who care about their craft. People who care about helping others feel better. People who might be doing completely different things but share the belief that wellness can be social, fun, weird, loud, quiet, sweaty, uncomfortable, joyful and HUMAN.

I think we got a little glimpse of what’s possible when you put all of those people in the same place.

Thank you to everyone who said yes and came along for the ride.

I think we need to do that again.

Oh, and the artwork you’re looking at? That’s the legend @gretchen.klens who absolutely crushed this piece.

Giddy Up!!! 🐝🔥 by @gretchen.klens

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13 days ago

“normal” is just a state of disconnection from ones authenticity & radiance. be weird. be you. taken in Agiocochook by @gretchen.klens

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21 days ago

🦅 submit your roadless rule comments to protect these sacred beings!!!!!! taken in Agiocochook by @gretchen.klens

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24 days ago

LET’S MOVE TOWARDS HARMONY AND EVOLUTION, PEOPLE!!!! RESIST AI. RESIST DATA CENTERS. RESIST FASCISM. RESIST DESTRUCTION!!! I pray for power amongst communities. I pray for resilient communities and flourishing lands. I pray for harmony and mutual care. I pray for a future rooted in care. YES WE CAN!!!!!!!! by @gretchen.klens

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24 days ago

AYE 💃🏽 Dont need your permission thoooo ;) Real talk tho, it’s ok to be misunderstood if you know yourself and are full of love to share… that’s what matters. Also, SURFS UP IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU WATCH IT. by @gretchen.klens

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24 days ago

SAY IT WITH ME NOW! 💃🏽❤️‍🔥 For real tho. You really have so much influence on your experience. Watch those stories in your head— the might be the thing that’s holding you back from your dream life. Be well, people❤️‍🔥 Or as @dr_beewell would say, GIDDY UP! taken in Agiocochook by @gretchen.klens

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25 days ago