I met D’Arcy Johnson on Twitter.com/tentutopia and she shares some of her outdoor story here and how she got into the tent business.
How and where were you introduced to the outdoors?
By my father who had a great love for the outdoors and passed that on to me. What has been your favourite hiking trail or outdoor area? My favorite outdoor area has to be pretty much any place in the Colorado Rockies.
Please share an outdoor story related to one of the above areas.
My father, mother, brother and I went on a camping trip in the Colorado Rockies when I was about age 8. We did not own a tent so we had to make shelters from pine bows to keep us from the elements. We day hiked through the area throughout most of our time spent there, which was only two days, unfortunately. My father taught us about tracking, finding edible foods, and looking out for poisonous plants. It was an educational, adventerous, and fun campout.
Have you ever been lost in the wilderness? If so, please describe this adventure and what you learned.
In all the time I have spent in the wilderness I have been fortunate enough not to have gotten lost.
Can you share any unique encounters with wild animals?
There was a time when my husband, children, and I were hiking up by Leadville Colorado, and as we stood there on top of the world, there came three Mountain Sheep right over the top about 10 feet away from us.
If not previously mentioned, have you ever completed a thru-hike or
multi-day backpacking trip and what nuggets of wisdom did you glean from it?
I have done a lot of hiking, and only backpacking several times. The biggest lesson I learned from my backpacking experience is to really take care in what you pack, how much it weighs, and that you have a survival kit. The main reason for knowing how much your pack weights is that you need to know how much you can carry for any distance. You want to make sure you have the neccessary items to live on and for protection. A survival kit is pertinent in case there is an injury, a need for rain gear, etc.
What is your favourite outdoor website? Backpacker Magazine.
What is your favourite outdoor hiking gear store? Cabela’s
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