Meet The Woods Clan: 15 Questions for an Infectiously Fun Family |
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Why do you take your family on the road and into the backcountry? Our fundamental reason is simply to explore. We love to find out what’s over the next hill, or what the view is like from that mountain over there. We are not the type to ask why a mountain was climbed. We know why, and relish in such experiences. Other, compelling reasons to escape to the backcountry is to expose our kids to the outdoors, and teach them core values about life, and how to escape materialism and appreciate the wonder and beauty of what God has provided for us. You guys look like you're hikers. Do you work hikes into your trips often? Yes, we hike often, though typically only short distances. My wife Marni loves to hike, but the rest of us have a hard time keeping up with her…. As a family, we make a point of having destination based trips (when they are overnight/camping trips), that almost always include hiking or climbing, or foot travel based exploration. The kids love to skip rocks in the lakes, exploring old mines (with parental supervision!), bouldering on large granite rock piles, and collecting rare stones. Megan loves her zip-off cargo pants because they have so many pockets! When we come home from a trip, we find dozens of small rocks hidden throughout all her clothes :-) On your last trip together, where did you go, what did you do? In the past month or two we’ve camped in the High Sierra’s along side Rock Creek and hiked up Little Lakes Valley, we’ve explored mud caves and sand canyons within Anza Borrego State Park, and Marni and Megan led a small group over the Mojave Trail all by themselves!
We absolutely love the Sierra Mountains. Yosemite, Mammoth, Tom’s Place, Coyote Flats, etc… Life about 10,000 feet is where we are most happy. However, because of the heavy snow pack in the Sierra’s, in the Fall, Winter and Spring we find ourselves frequenting the deserts ranges of the El Paso Mountains or Joshua Tree, or in the local Big Bear Mountain area of the San Bernardino range for quick trips up into the pine forests. Are you good camp cooks? What do you like to make? We eat quite well on the trail, although we are not “purists” who bring raw ingredients and whip up gourmet meals on the spot. Instead, Marni plans everything all out well in advance, and even packs the cooler in layers with the end of the trip meals towards the bottom. She will pre-cook many of the meals, which allows us to eat well and makes on -site prep (and clean up) a breeze.
All of our meals are simple to warm up. The precooked items we pack in a tinfoil pan and just toss it on the coleman stove to heat it and eat it. The Mexican Smore’s are a bit more involved and require a jug of cooking oil, but they are so worth it! So you have this beautiful Jeep that I totally envy. How do you guys like the Jeep? Is it okay for a family of four? "First of all, it’s MY Jeep, and it’s AWESOME, especially with the top down." Nathan: This Jeep can conquer any obstacle except the gas pump. Fuel range is very limited. We have an LJ so it’s quite a bit more spacious than a TJ but it’s really tight with 4 people and all our camping gear for overnight trips. If we used only lightweight backpack gear, it might be more practical. But we camp in comfort, and that takes space the Jeep just doesn’t have. However, with only two people on board, the LJ is cavernous when you remove the rear seat. I’ve built a cargo shelf that runs the full length of the cargo bay and allows plenty of tiedown options and keeps the weight down low. We’ve done week-long camping trips with 2 people with ease…allowing enough room for plenty of jerry cans :-)
Tell me about a “guilty pleasure” you pulled off while on a trip. Nathan: Well, our longest trip was a 10 day solo vehicle journey through Utah & Arizona, much of it on dirt roads and trails. It was an amazing experience, but… pitching a tent and setting up camp each night in a new spot was destined to be a sore point, so I planned the trip to hit a town every other night, and we stayed at hotels on those nights…with showers, restaurants, and ice cream! Somehow, no matter how remote, we always seem to find ice cream along the way. That’s probably my biggest guilty pleasure. BTW> Ruby’s Inn at Bryce Canyon is the bomb! Marni: Weary, tired and dirty after 7 days of camping in Mammoth and Yosemite, we were all sleeping in the car, and unbeknownst to us, my husband drove down to Yosemite Valley (from Tuolumne Meadows), and surprised us with an excellent steak dinner with wine finished off with Creme Brûlée at the Mountain Room under a hypnotizing view of Yosemite Falls. Heavenly!
What's the hardest part about taking a trip? “Will they be willing to go on another trip with me if I screw this one up?”Nathan: On my own, I’ll go anywhere and just deal with whatever conditions I find. When the family is along with me, I feel compelled to provide a safe yet adventurous destination that is scenic, comfortable, and compelling to go back. Trying to provide that type of experience adds a lot of stress in trip planning, research, logistics, and decision making when you are out there. Guess wrong, and you always wonder in the back of your mind, “Will they be willing to go on another trip with me if I screw this one up?” I really shouldn’t worry though. Our very first family camping trip was to Mammoth. It rained for a week straight, but we all had fun anyway, and have been camping frequently ever since. Heck, one time way out in the desert, we belatedly realized that we had set up camp in a dry wash, and of course, in the middle of the night we had a rainstorm! We all jumped out the tent and into the truck and slept there until the rain subsided. Next morning, not a peep or complaint from anyone! I have an awesome family! Marni: The hardest part is the prep work before the trip. Shopping, cooking, laundry, making sure everything is packed. It takes a lot of energy, and it never gets easier no matter how practiced we are. Megan: Guessing about the weather and what clothing to pack. I keep growing out of all my favorites! Trevor: Spending too much time in the backseat with my sister….
This seems to be our family’s special calling. We love taking newbies out camping with us. We’ve developed checklists and gear guides and have a good stock of “extra” stuff that always seems to be needed. We love sharing the outdoors with friends and family. We just took a young couple from India to the high Sierra’s. They are from the jungles, and had never seen snow or climbed a mountain, or even camped around a campfire! We got to help them experience their first snow ball fight on top of Mammoth Mtn (elevation 11,000 feet!) on July 4th, to see their first Fireworks show, and enjoy their first S`more. That’s priceless. We have two more families lined up for their first camping experience in the next month or so. Dad can get cranky sometimes if he doesn’t sleep well :-)(Kids): What do you like about going on camping trips with your family? What don't you like? Megan: There’s lot of laughing, especially at night in the tent, just before we fall asleep. I love playing in the dirt, playing in the water, and collecting really cool rocks. Trevor: Travel candy! On trips Mom lets us pick our own snacks. I also love rock scrambling, and my favorite is swimming at Rubicon Springs! Both: Dad can get cranky sometimes if he doesn’t sleep well :-) (Kids): Does your dad like to pull over to take pictures all the time? Does he ever give you the camera? Both: YES! And yes, sometimes. Not enough though! (Kids): If dad handed you one match and told you to make the campfire, would you do it? Both: YES! (Marni): Off highway, do you prefer driving or navigating? What would Nathan say you liked better? Driving, definitely driving. That’s why I have my own Jeep! (Marni): What interests you most about backcountry adventures? I love the smell of the unspoiled outdoors, I love the wildlife, even the bears! I love exploring something new and different, to get out to where most people will never see. Bonus Question: What final piece of advice would you give other kids and families interested in camping? Kids: Wear the right clothes, Leave special toys at home that you might lose (like Lego’s). Let your kids explore on their own and to climb rocks! Marni: The more you prepare ahead of time, the more you will enjoy the trip! Nathan: Bring real pillows and always keep your eyes open for Ice Cream. |
I've known Nathan Woods only though 
Comments
:lol:
Great interview, I love the idea.
Oh yeah, I love how the Woods' kids are stoked to light the campfire. Awesome.
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