COME TO LIFE Ho N e ls o n lla nd Hike of Your Life When Nelson Holland moved to Colorado and saw the picture-perfect beauty of the state, it was a life-altering moment for the Brooklynite. Not only was he introduced to a new, lifelong passion, he started on the path to becoming an outdoors-focused social-media influencer — and a featured guest for Colorado Tourism Office’s Do Colorado Right campaign. “Once I saw the Rocky Mountains, it unlocked a bunch of new things for me,” Holland said. “There was this bison spot at Rocky Mountain Arsenal [National Wildlife Refuge] with 200 bison 15 minutes away from where I used to live in Thornton, and I started going over there because I wasn’t really a nature person in the same way in New York.” That was 10 years ago, and Holland said those early visits to Rocky Mountain Arsenal kicked off a decade of outdoor discovery. Since then, he’s explored Colorado’s vast landscape, seeking big views and glimpses of the local wildlife — keeping Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles, like Keep Wildlife Wild, in mind. He’s shared his adventures along the way, too, collecting a bounty of likes and followers on his Instagram and TikTok platforms, @fatblackandgettinit. There, he works to encourage others to explore the great outdoors, while elevating the importance of representation and inclusion. “There are people like me that don’t look like the traditional hiker,” he said. “There are people that are plus sized that take more time. There are people that need poles. We should really be inclusive of everybody getting out there. There’s a trail for everybody as long as [people are] respectful of everybody else.” HAVE THE 64 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2024: Page 64
