Dirt Babe

Growing up, dirt was my playground. I thrived in it. I played in it. I may or may not have (but definitely did) eat it when mom and dad weren’t looking. I was a dirt baby through and through.

Baby Liz was accustomed to taking baths in coolers on camping trips and being strapped into hiking packs. I was toted up many a mountain top with the prime viewing spot of the head of whichever parent had the pleasure of carrying me. Roadtrips were a keystone of childhood summers, with our little red Geo Metro taking us from seedy motel to campground one unairconditioned mile at a time. 

Mom grew up camping, canoeing, and hiking with her family. She managed to lead outdoor adventures with Wilderness Inquiry over summers, took an expedition to Greenland, and taught abroad in China while teaching full time during the school year. Somehow, she managed to squeeze in all these adventures before meeting my dad.

In the summer of 1990, Jim Huninghake and Lisa Rem took off on a bike trip across Wisconsin. Little did they know, they would each meet the love of their life, spend four days getting to know one another, and manage to build a relationship foundation to kick off a lifetime of outdoor escapades, radness, and a pair of very very cute kids.

Together, they canoed, camped, hiked, biked, and everything in between. And in turn, they passed on their shared love of the great outdoors to my brother and me. Inadvertently, they raised two dirt babies. Little nuggets that would be inspired by their adventures, live by their love of the outdoors, and who would attempt to continue on the legacy.  

Dirt babies have a tendency of growing into full-blown dirt babes. We seek out experiences to dive in, live a little, get dirty in the process, and come out a better person at the end. We strive to do hard things that push the limits of mind, body, and soul. We get down to the nitty-gritty of what makes up the human spirit and are constantly on the search for ways to be better, do better, and eat more mac n’ cheese.

I’m forever grateful for parents who instilled a sense of adventure and curiosity in the world outside our doorstep. Thanks for raising dirt babies Mom and Dad, Josh and I are beyond stoked to continue on the legacy.