While working at Mellow Mushroom in college, Hayley had several fleeting encounters with a certain unnamed hippy, climber type dude--we'll call him Sexy Dread Head--by the time they finally met. You see, SDH was somewhat of a frequent flyer at the popular pizza and beer joint between his stints as a challenge course and zipline builder at CDI, and Hayley gradually took notice. Fast forward through a slow dinner shift, a beer or 2, and some not-so-smooth scootching down the bar towards where each other are seated, and it is SDH's NOLS t-shirt that finally gets the conversation moving. Turns out, his name is Alex. They both did a NOLS course. They both love climbing. Here's where we cue Sketchy Kenny. The group has moved next-door to Dirty Murphy's, and Sketchy Kenny has Alex pegged from the moment we walk in. He's pursuing a climbing partner, and he can't wait to climb in this newfound mountain oasis in which he's chosen to park his van. And climb. With visible reluctance, Alex agrees to share tomorrow's climbing plans. Kenny ropes in an even more reluctant Hayley, and just like that, it's a date.

At the end of an already perfect climbing day, Alex insisted they cap it off with Boardwalk: a very popular, classic route that summits to spectacular panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It escaped neither of them that this is the first route they ever climbed together back in 2012, so a hungry and slightly grumbly Hayley agreed to one more run... ONLY if there wasn't a line. They arrived at just the right time. After collecting an exceptionally prudent amount of protective gear that he had placed along the way (very UN-Alex!), Hayley pulled over the final ledge to one of the happiest moments of her life. Alex was in his nice shirt, and down on one knee. She was completely surprised, and truly speechless (very UN-Hayley!). It was perfect. Now, here we are.