Eight Boots Abroad

When Howie and I first crossed paths in 2002, we had recently completed our undergrad degrees and independently traveled after graduation. I had been living in Nelson, New Zealand, working in a small hostel, coaching a swim team, and slicing vegetables in the produce department of a local grocery store. Meanwhile, Howie had spent time hiking and mountaineering in Europe, Asia, and New Zealand.

Following our individual adventures and a series of life events, we both found ourselves back in Colorado in the fall of 2002. More precisely, we found each other on the pool deck at the University of Denver while swimming with the masters swim team (Howie claims I saw him in a Speedo and there was no turning back). Within a couple of weeks of meeting, we hatched a plan to set off to Patagonia (Argentina/Chile) to live in a tent for a month. Over those four weeks wandering the rugged and remote landscapes of Patagonia, we faced the prospect of either falling madly in love – or maybe deeply regretting our hasty decision.

Fortunately for us, we both returned from Patagonia very fond of each other.

Here we are! A youthful Howie and Sonya, lugging our uncomfortably heavy, old-school packs while trekking the entire circuit route (110km) through Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile.

More backpacking, hiking, and climbing trips took place in Switzerland, Peru, and New Zealand as we both worked our way through graduate school. Saving money here and there to buy plane tickets, and then living in a tent (some camping spots more legal than others) while we traveled abroad. Not surprisingly, we were falling more and more in love during each of these crazy-amusing shoestring adventures. In the fall of 2005, we exchanged vows surrounded by friends and family, and committed to being each other’s “life-long adventure buddies.”

In 2011 and 2012, our kiddos were born. Luckily, they’re usually all-in for almost any shenanigans we throw their way! So, fast-forward 22 years from that initial trip to Patagonia, and we now find ourselves preparing for our most significant adventure yet. We’re pulling the kids from school, uprooting our daily lives, and embarking on a 13-month extended backpacking/nomadic journey.

Here are a few more amusing pictures of young Howie & Sonya (it’s amazing how quickly 20 years has passed!)