Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Mt Pilchuck - Part I


Part I is full of bridges, pathways, fog, light, and Michael hiking.  Prepare for the summit and beautiful views in Part II.  

Mt. Pilchuck is located roughly 1.5 hours east of Seattle.  I would consider this to be a more strenuous hike, one you would not want to hike completely out of shape.  It's around a 6 mile roundtrip hike with 360 degree views of the Cascade Mountains at the summit.  There are several rock scrambles but nothing as strenuous (or as long) as hiking Old Rag in Virginia.  I would highly recommend this hike to anyone traveling to Washington and in need of a hike with good views.  Be prepared with snacks, a camera (lots of views!), and start early to avoid busy trails as this is a popular hike.  Be sure to buy a forest pass at a gas station in the nearby town of Granite Falls.  Happy travels!



























A rock scramble...


Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram I (Travel) // Instagram II (Personal) 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Engagement - Katherine and Joe


After several years of saying “Hi”, a Facebook message changed everything.  Katherine originally met Joe through his ex-girlfriend.  He didn’t know it at the time, but she had a huge crush on him.  The extent of their conversations throughout high school was a simple “hello”.  Fast forward to August of 2009 when she was in her third year of college at Ohio University and he was in his fifth year at Randolph-Macon College. Both college athletes, their busy schedules and distance seemed as if it would prevent anything from happening.  But that year, Katherine decided to take a chance.

She decided to Facebook message him to say hello.  A month later, he came out to visit her.  And again in October.  In between visits, they met each other’s families, spent holidays together and never stopped talking.  After that, they started dating.  After they both had graduated, they reunited forever in Washington, D.C.  And then came the proposal in October of 2011.  They went to Athens for Ohio’s Homecoming.  Easing into her friend’s luxurious air mattress, he turned to her and asked “will you marry me?”  Sheasked “are you serious?  He responded “Yes, I had this feeling that I needed to ask you now.”  And just like that, she said yes.  Simple, intimate, passionate, and authentic.  

Fast forward again to May of 2013 when Joe had the perfect ring made.  He spoke to a jeweler about finding the diamond she liked.  The associate told him about an upcoming event where the jeweler made the ring on the spot.  He went but later told her they didn’t have what he wanted.  Later that same day, he asked a grumpy and disappointed her to slow dance, just like he always does when she’s upset.  Then, he told her “we never do things traditionally so…” and that’s when he got down on one knee for the second time to ask her for marriage with a ring in hand.  She was completely surprised and said yes again!

Katherine and Joe wanted to return to their hometown, Charlottesville, for engagement pictures.  Nothing says Charlottesville like being surrounded by the historic Court Square, Downtown Mall, and Mr. Jefferson’s University.  They will return to Charlottesville again for their wedding next year.










































Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram I (Travel) // Instagram II (Personal)