In 2015, Katie and Mike met while working in the backcountry at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. They wrote letters to each other and spent the majority of their days off hiking to each other’s camps. Together they sunrised Wilson Mesa and Baldy Mountain! In August, Katie's Camp Director, Sean Murphy, and other staff members created a "dowry" to ensure that Mike was fit enough to date her. All was delivered except for the bottom 6 feet of the tallest spar pole. Katie had to inform Mike that they were no longer allowed to see each other until the "dowry" was fully completed. Days later, Mike hiked uphill from Pueblano to Baldy Town carrying the spar pole in his backpack! For the first 4 years of their relationship, they dated long-distance and spent their summers working at Philmont together. Over the years, they have traveled to eighteen states, earned six Junior Park Ranger Badges, and have memories to last a lifetime!

On February 5, 2022, Mike and Katie traveled to Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore in Michigan. Katie planned a weekend trip to a cabin in the UP just for fun, and Mike took this as the perfect opportunity to propose. The original plan was to hike to the ice curtains (a 10-mile round trip hike), but due to a lack of planning on their part, they underestimated how many miles it really was. They spent hours hiking and snowshoeing and finally decided that they would not make it, and turned around to beat the incoming snowstorm. While they hiked back, Katie was planning where she wanted to take her "Hi Mom" picture, while Mike was recalculating which location would be best to propose. Once they arrived at the mini ice curtain, the last group of hikers passed by and they were now the last ones on the trail. Mike set up the GoPro to film the proposal and told Katie that it was just a timer for a picture. After 3 attempts (Mike was really nervous), he proposed. During the hike out of the forest, the snow began to fall - it was the most perfect day!