Sean Raymond Collier is a nomadic, van-based film photographer documenting his travels on A Wild Notion. Follow Sean on Instagram for more #vanlife adventures
Back in the 60’s, my great grandfather began making trips up to the Eastern Sierra with his wife and girls each summer. His love of fishing, hiking, and immersing in the mountains was passed down to his daughters, and so on through the generations, until I made my first trip to the area at around ten years old.
Although my great grandfather was on his last leg by the time I was old enough to want meaningful conversations, I read some of his writings after his passing. Stories of waiting out snowstorms while camped on the lake for months at a time; stories of his old pickup truck breaking down during a time where AAA towing wasn’t readily available. In learning of his legacy I discovered how my passion for being outdoors, particularly in the mountains, is something that is engrained in my DNA.
In keeping with tradition, I’ve been cruising up to the Eastern Sierra every summer since my first visit. In recent years I’ve acquired a trusty rig to allow for longer, more comfortable stays. Now I wake up wherever I desire. Yet after all these years, I had yet to catch a glimpse of the place in its purest form—the winter season.
So, at the tail-end of winter, I packed up my van, made sure I had enough film, and headed north on the 395. My good friend and fellow van-dweller Beau wanted to explore the region too, and our new purchase of walkie-talkies kept us keenly in contact while caravanning.
