Johnny Collinson is something else. In 2009, and at a mere 17 years old, he stood atop Mt. Everest as the youngest Westerner ever to do so. Obviously, he didn't just wake up one day, roll out of a van amid a haze of smoke like Jeff Spiccoli and decide to nab that summit. He's been enjoying and accomplishing all things mountain since he was born and apparently dirtbagging it with the family all along the way. His folks raised him and his sister skiing in Utah during the winters and campervanning in the summers. As he says, "We lived out of a van or a tent in the summer until I was 14, when dad got a summer job . . ."

Remember the moment you learned that you were definitely going to be a real parent in under nine months? You saw the stick turn pink, or got word from the doc, or, like my wife said to me on the way to bed one night before letting the waterworks of happiness loose, "Well . . . you're going to be a dad." For the next 24 hours or more, it's a collision of far too many emotions to list, and plans and fears and bright ideas and joy. Or not. Depends what you went through. Eventually, though, things calm down and whether by design or nature or pressure you might start to make some decisions about the kind of parent you want to be, and the kind of contribution to humanity you want to make by raising some children.

Aamion and Daize Goodwin are on a round-the-world trip with their two little ones, Given and True, and have certainly made a conscious decision about the kind of parents they want to be.

And there's more . . .

When Stuart Wickes and Kirstie Pelling got married, they honeymooned for six months in South America. Actually they rode their bicycles through South America. Not a bad way to celebrate the blissful bells that mark the blessings of becoming ball and chain. Six months later they arrived in Tierra del Fuego. As you can imagine, this was one incredible adventure honeymoon full of sweet memories. For example, the pair took a week's work as a crew on a yacht, negotiating the fjords and island clusters of southern Chile.

It was no ordinary vessel. You could say it changed their lives  . . .

Yep, some families get into Little League or soccer or ballet or piano. The Donnelly family gets into competitive whitewater kayaking . . .

Now, how is this connected? It's a grand undertaking to find a cogent and authentic way to associate the anarchy of punk rock with family-friendly outdoor adventure. But I'm going to give it a shot, right here, right now. I've made worse decisions in my life.

Surfing, skiing, riding bikes, and climbing. These are the outdoor pursuits that come easier to the little ones than many of us realize. That is until we see our kids give them a shot. That's when we're delighted and surprised, or surprisingly delighted, to see them try, maybe fall a bit, but also get back up and keep going with no shortage of stoke. This video should really get you excited. Watch little Jaime. He's just 4 years old and cranks 5.10b in the gym on lead.

(see video ...)