As millennials do, on Hinge. And then scheduled our first date at the park 1 week after the pandemic started. Whoops!

Under a hot sun, we scrambled our way up Lemei Rock in Indian Heaven Wilderness. The mosquitos were relentless, the trail hidden, and I (Colleen) had massive blisters on my feetsies. Chris, knowing I would be pissed later if we didn't make it to the top and I learned he had planned to propose up there, encouraged me with 360 views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Rainer, and Mt. Jefferson. Thus, we continued upward. When we got to the top, we went different ways to look around, and Chris took the opportunity to set up his phone to video. He called me over, got on one knee, and proposed with a ring he crafted himself (originally 3 sizes too big, a lovely finger bangle as his sister called it). I kinda blacked out, but I know he said sweet things!! (we tried to watch the video Chris took later, but it ended up just being our feet and muffled words, classic). With a pep in our step and a flutter in our hearts, we hiked back down to our backcountry camping spot where we inflated a pack raft and floated the rest of the day away on the lake. The best <3