We're getting married!

Our story began with swiping right. Romantic, we know. It was the middle of the pandemic, when the world felt upside down, and the only real way to connect was through a screen. Our first dates were simple: coffee, dinners, and long walks. As we got to know each other, it became clear we shared a love of hiking. Now, “hiking” can mean very different things to different people. Sidewalk strolls? Scenic viewpoints? Short trails? Technical climbs? Overnight adventures? We realized pretty quickly we needed to test what hiking really meant to each other. So, in the dead of winter in Grande Cache, Alberta, we decided to climb Mount Hamel. ⸻ Kailee’s Recollection Mount Hamel is one of my favourite hikes: a 20 km round trip, half of it above the treeline. This would be my first time doing it in winter, with snowshoes. I had no doubt I could make it to the summit and back. As for Stefan, I figured the mountain would reveal his true colours. Poor schmuck. I packed Oreos, candy, and celebratory beers. Stefan packed beef jerky… and a gun. With a few extra layers, we set off feeling confident and slightly unstoppable. Within the first kilometre, the snow became waist-deep. And of course, the rookie had forgotten his snowshoes. After a quick (and necessary) turnaround, we were officially on our way. It was a beautiful day. The wind wasn’t terrible, and trudging through deep snow kept us warm. I was in my happy place: outside, on a mountain. Stefan’s internal dialogue? Probably “don’t show weakness,” but I can’t say for sure. Hours later, we reached the summit smiling, proud, and completely unaware that the wind had picked up and the temperature had dropped fast. We cracked a beer. About four minutes later, our bodies started freezing. Panic. No time to snack or celebrate. We needed shelter, now. As we scrambled down, battling wind, steep terrain, and dropping body temperatures, my hands stopped working, and we were still kilometres from the treeline. Stefan suddenly stopped, unzipped his jacket, pulled me close, and wrapped me up inside his layers, warming me with his body heat. Superman move. Exhausted, frozen, and clinging to a mountainside, I knew in that moment exactly who Stefan was. He had officially earned his “hiker” status. ⸻ Stefan’s Recollection Pulling up to Mount Hamel, I felt good. There wasn’t much snow, and after two years of solo hiking, the mountain didn’t intimidate me. It felt like a good test for Kailee. I packed a full Ziploc of beef jerky and the rifle I’d just bought. Confidence was high. With trekking poles and gaiters on, we set off. Kailee mentioned snowshoes, but I brushed it off. No snow down here, no problem. Three kilometres later, there it was. Deep snow. Almost three feet. I’d made a mistake. I turned to Kailee, who had the most perfect smug “I told you so” face. We both laughed. I dropped my pack and took off running back to the truck. I’m not much of a runner, but I was trying to impress a girl after embarrassing myself, so I pushed it, tripped, and executed a full somersault into the snow. Not my finest moment. Snowshoes retrieved, we settled into the climb. It was a grind, but the company was incredible. Every hour or so, Kailee would offer me an Oreo with the biggest smile. It was impossible to say no. Near the summit, the wind howled and the cold bit hard. Still stubborn, we pushed on. It was immediately obvious it was far too cold for a beer. On the way down, I noticed Kailee’s hands were really cold, dangerously so. Already committed to impressing her at all costs, I told her to put her hands on my back and hug me to warm up. They were freezing. After a few moments, I handed over the hand warmers I’d packed, and we continued down lighter, warmer, and victorious.