We met in an academic writing class during our third year of university. It was just an elective for both of us, so it’s funny to think how unlikely it was that our paths crossed at all. We sat beside each other, edited each other’s papers, and then went our separate ways after the semester. A few months later, we reconnected, started going to church and rock climbing together, and we've been inseparable ever since!

We got engaged in Canmore, Alberta, on the knife-edge ridge of Lady MacDonald. It was near the end of a long trip exploring lakes, mountains, and gorges throughout the Rockies — and thanks to a recommendation from my very cool cousin, Daniel Jackett, I had a feeling this mountain might be the perfect place to propose. Of course, it didn’t turn out to be as simple as that. As we climbed above the treeline, the trail turned icy, the wind picked up, and a dark cloud started rolling in over the ridge. We were nervous, but determined to keep going. The higher we hiked, the steeper and looser the terrain became. Near the summit, it turned into a true scramble — rocks shifting under our feet, gusts pushing us sideways. There were definitely moments when one of us froze or suggested turning around, but somehow, each time, we found the courage to continue. When we finally reached the top, the view took our breath away. A full 360° panorama of rugged peaks and deep valleys, with a razor-thin ridge stretching out in front of us. Right behind us was a sheer drop into the canyon below, and the wind was so strong we could barely stand without bracing ourselves. With all that adrenaline — and Becca just trying to stay upright and warm — she had absolutely no idea what was coming. I got down on one knee (partially because it felt more stable than standing!) and showed her the ring. She instantly forgot the fear, jumped up from where she was huddled, and shouted: “Yes! Absolutely yes! Easiest yes of my life!” Hair blowing everywhere, huge smiles — it’s a moment we’ll never forget. We practically skipped down the mountain, still shaking but grinning nonstop. And the day wasn’t done — that evening we took the gondola up Sulphur Mountain in Banff and were treated to the only true sunset we saw on our entire 12-day trip: the sky turning deep red and orange over endless peaks. It couldn’t have been planned better if we tried. A magical day — the perfect start to the next chapter of our lives.