We both moved to California in August of 2016 to start a new job as outdoor education instructors at Pali Institute in Running Springs, California. Mary Jo drove across the country from North Carolina to California for this new job opportunity. Jacob had a shorter trip traveling from Texas. We start the season excited for a new beginning and quickly became good friends. After relentless teasing from one of Mary Jo's cabin groups and a few of the staff, Jacob asked Mary Jo to go to the arboretum. The two went to explore the arboretum in Running Springs which only took about 20 minutes to walk the entire loop. After walking through the arboretum Jacob treated Mary Jo to the best pizza on the mountain at Lou Eddy's. Little did they know it was the beginning of a grand adventure.

To end the summer, Jacob had planned a backpacking trip to scout a route for work and for Mary Jo to get some trail time with her backpack. They invited Nicole and Phillip (Mary Jo's friends from Wake) and Jeanette (Mary Jo's sister) to join them. The route was planned and rain gear packed because when you camp with Mary Jo's family it always rains. The crew headed out Friday night, made jambalaya for dinner and fell asleep to soft rain. After breakfast, they hit the trail again. Saturday was going to be the longest hike to fit in 2 days on Jacob's route. The hiking was steady but starting to wear on Mary Jo especially because it was her first time wearing her pack. Just before lunchtime the trail finally opened up to a beautiful mountain view. Obviously this called for pictures so they pulled out phones and took couples pictures. As Mary Jo and Jacob were taking pictures he said he needed a snack. Mary Jo nagged him for being slow getting his snack out (her backpack was heavy and she didn't want to take it off before the lunch stop). Finally, Jacob came back over and promptly knelt down to tie his shoe. Mary Jo looked down to see perfectly tied laces and knew something was up. Jacob proceeded to propose and Mary Jo said yes! The best part was friends being there to capture the moment on camera and to share the joy. Jeanette had to return to Winston, but the rest of the crew hiked the whole way out so they could go and celebrate the newly engaged couple!