*APRIL 25 2021 POSTPONED*

Nicole and Ken met while working together in Southeast Alaska. It was a new start for Nicole and she was excited for her first summer of being a hiking and rafting guide. At first she was questioning her decision to move so far from her family and friends, but as she saw the beauty and wildness this magical place had to offer, she knew she had made the right decision. Kenny was starting his second summer and instead of returning as primarily a mountain guide, he crossed over to be a rafting guide. When Nicole first noticed Kenny, he was telling everyone in their training group a joke. Peering over the bus seat he asked, " What's a cats favorite dressing?"... and jumping up from behind the seat said, "Rrrrrr-rannch!" Naturally, this made Nicole laugh and she knew Ken a very special guy. During training everyone was challenged adapting themselves to reading the breaded rivers, maneuvering heavy rafts, and being prepared for emergency situations. Ken really noticed Nicole at this point. Her sincere determination and unconditional kindness caught his attention. Nicole and Ken quickly became good friends and it was not long after that they fell in love.

Ken and Nicole had just finished another great summer of guiding in Southeast Alaska. It was a long summer of hard work and now there was time to play. Taking advantage of the beautiful day they floated down the Chilkat River, where they met three years before. The sun was shining. You could see the tops of mountains with hanging glaciers, trumpeter swans flying, and eagles feasting on the salmon making their way upstream. While paddling they discovered a small tributary tucked away and there on the silty riverbank Ken asked Nicole to marry him.