We’re Eloping!!!

Our alarm went off after what felt like minutes of sleep. Excitement and nerves had been building since the night before when we drove from LA to Lone Pine, CA. After trying the previous year, we had finally won a permit to hike Mt. Whitney—14,505 feet high, the tallest peak in the contiguous U.S. We had spent the year training together, strengthening not only our endurance but also our bond. Now, the 21.2-mile trek with 6,663 feet of elevation gain awaited us. With Amanda by my side, I knew we could do it—but she had no idea what was really waiting for her at the top. At 2:30 AM on September 22, 2023, we started our ascent from Whitney Portal, headlamps shining. For hours, we climbed through darkness, crossing streams and rocky switchbacks. By 5:30 AM, the first light of sunrise painted the sky over Death Valley. Despite our preparation, altitude sickness loomed—I felt overheated, but Amanda kept me steady with reminders to eat and hydrate. At Trail Camp, we paused for breakfast before facing the infamous 100 switchbacks. The altitude slowed us down, and Amanda struggled with altitude sickness now as well. We debated turning back, but a group of older hikers passing by offered Jelly Bellies. Surprisingly, the sugar revived her, and we pressed on. To this day, it’s become a favorite trail snack. Finally, we reached the top of the switchbacks, where stunning views and fierce winds greeted us. Pressing on, we saw a sign—just 1.9 miles to go. That last stretch was grueling, each step requiring relentless encouragement. Every turn felt like it should reveal the peak, but it never did. At last, we spotted the summit shack. With one final snow-covered scramble, we arrived at the top at 2 PM. We quietly celebrated, taking in the breathtaking views. My nerves kicked in, but as I looked at Amanda, joy replaced any anxiety. After eight years together, I had no doubts—she was my perfect match. I set up our tripod under the disguise of taking a final photo, then grasped the ring box in my pocket, feeling its weight. As I dropped to one knee at 14,505 feet, the journey we had just endured mirrored our relationship—built on teamwork, encouragement, and unwavering support. Expressing my love came naturally. Amanda said yes, and we embraced, though the cold quickly forced us to seek shelter in the summit shack, where we admired the ring and the thought behind its design. Though exhausted, we still had to hike all the way back down. We reached the bottom of the switchbacks before dark but soon encountered the same group of women who had given us Jelly Bellies—now lost and panicked. With 30% phone battery and our AllTrails app, we guided them safely down, though it slowed us considerably. By the time we reached Whitney Portal at midnight, we had been hiking for 21 hours. Too late for our celebratory dinner, we resorted to gas station ramen, heating water in the hotel coffee maker. But in that moment, nothing could have tasted better—we were engaged, and that was all that mattered.