From Enduring Winter to Enjoying It
The Almroth’s Story
Dave and Katie Almroth are parents of four children between the ages of 10 and 17. After 27 years working as a lawyer in New York City, Dave is now a stay-at-home dad. He also serves as an elder at his church and on several nonprofit boards. As Dave shifted home, Katie returned to nursing, where she now visits new moms and babies in their first month to ensure they are healthy.
Their family comes to CAMP-of-the-WOODS every year. Dave has attended every summer since childhood, and Katie was drawn into the COTW community when they got married. This winter, though, their visit looked a bit different. It was just the two of them.
Reflecting on signing up for Adventure Weekend, Dave shares:
“I received an email from Camp and thought it looked like a fantastic opportunity — we love the outdoors and it seemed like a really rare experience to have a guided outdoors experience packaged together with a spiritual aspect. I had sent the information on to my pastor, and he wrote me back telling me he and his wife had signed up even before I had an opportunity to speak with Katie! Once they had signed up, we obviously did, leaving the childcare situation to be solved later.”
Getting away as parents of four isn’t simple. But thanks to a brother and sister-in-law stepping in to help, Dave and Katie made their way to the snow-covered Adirondacks for a winter adventure.
The weekend quickly proved special. Cross-country skiing through quiet woods, hiking two different lookouts on back-to-back days, and seeing familiar summer hikes transformed by snow and ice gave everything a new sense of wonder.
Reaching the top of Watch Hill and Panther Mountain, they expressed gladness about choosing to come.
Katie said:
“These were both hikes we had done in the summer over the years, but seeing the mountains and lakes covered in snow and ice made for a dramatic difference.”
Dave reflects that it was a series of moments for him, not only the mountain top views, but the nights in a cozy bed, beautiful views of Lake Pleasant, and even the simple gift of not making breakfast for a family of six.
When reflecting on what made the weekend special, the Almroths mention:
beautiful views while hiking
sounds of the cross-country skis swishing through the woods
delightful silence when we stopped to listen
fellowship we felt with other Christians at meals, on our way to adventures
sitting around the fire discussing the weekend’s theme of “Gratitude”
All of it felt meaningful.
Together they reflected:
“I think we felt a great deal of joy over the weekend. That, and “active rest” (as much as an oxymoron that may sound like). It was good to get out of the ‘enduring winter’ mode and into ‘enjoying winter.’”
Their experience didn’t stay in the Adirondacks or at CAMP-of-the-WOODS, but they took pieces of their weekend home with them.
The Almroths said they carried home two things:
“A desire to live more thankfully, and also to live more adventurously.”
For Dave, that has already taken shape as a practical habit. He has started writing a weekly thank-you note as a way to live out renewed gratitude.
Dave and Katie said yes to this weekend before they had the details figured out — and this is what happened when they made space to rest, reflect, and reconnect.