One day at work, we were all hanging out and chatting when someone asked what my "type" was. I said someone smart, outdoorsy, dark hair and a beard... you know like a "mountain man." My coworker Karina said I know one of those! She gave Matt my number and by lunch that day we had a date set. We met at a wine bar in Charlotte and shared a wine flight called the "Laura Flight." We talked for hours and the rest is history.

We planned a trip to North Cascades National Park in August 2021. Matt wanted to camp but I wanted to glamp. We compromised on renting a campervan. After a flight cancellation and an unplanned night in Dallas, we made it to Washington, picked up our van and headed straight to North Cascades NP. We decided to do the Thunder Knob trail first. We hiked to the top of a summit that overlooked gorgeous Diablo Lake. At the top, Matt asked if I wanted some water which I gladly took. A few minutes later he asked if I wanted some "ice" with that. Confused, I looked down and found him on one knee with the ring!