Snowy June Hiking Elopement

Cam + Jenna

It isn’t every day that you hike up to 12,000 feet above sea level. It’s even less common that you might do so while half of the trail is still covered in snow. And even rarer still is someone who does all of that while wearing a wedding dress, or a suit. But if you’re Jenna + Cam, well now you have.

Every June in Colorado is a little bit questionable when it comes to snowpack. Some of our favorite trails in the state won’t even entertain opening up until July, and even those that do open in June tend to have at least a little snow leftover in the vicinity. But this past winter, many areas of the state got over 150% of their average annual snowfall. So even trails that we normally feel pretty confident will be easy in mid-June just aren’t this year. So we were surprised but also not at the state of our hike with Jenna + Cam. Most of the first half had water rushing down the hiking trail, at some points over an inch deep. With proper hiking boots on, we were all able to traverse it without too much trouble, despite Jenna carrying armfuls of dress to do so.

But once we got about halfway up the hill, a full-on snow plug blocked access to the trail completely. We managed to scramble across some rocks to meet back up with the trail, only to find another snowplug a few dozen feet later, as we rounded a corner. Careful foot placement and microspikes were absolutely necessary, but we made it across until just a little bit further on, snow again. But this time, it was the entire rest of the trail.

But Jenna + Cam didn’t bat an eye, so we all trounced our way through the snow, sometimes up to our knees in it. It made for cold, wet feet and a bit of frustrating traversal, but eventually it also made for a beautiful view of the still-frozen lake. The wind carved subtle waves in the snow as if it were sand, and in the valleys of those waves was bright blue ice. Set against the rock wall on the other side, we had a pretty spectacular view, even if it felt more like January than June. In fickle Colorado fashion, we had some sunshine at times and snow actively falling all around us at others.

Jenna + Cam were undisturbed. We found space and they began to share their vows to one another. They embraced their unique personalities by approaching vows in very different ways, with Jenna having them all written down, and Cam delivering his from the heart. Before we ever got to this day they had asked if Alex would be willing to assist them in a hand-fasting ceremony. They brought cords they had prepared by asking for input from their families, a handfasting tradition we’ve always admired. And they exchanged rings, or at least as much as they could muster. The high elevation and unpredictable weather will often leave hands a bit swollen, another unique challenge of eloping in the Rocky Mountains.

But having sufficiently embraced about as much cold as they could manage, we took a few more photos before beginning the descent back to the trailhead. One of the beautiful things about eloping, and trusting a local photographer to guide you through your day, is that if you decide on a whim you’d like to adjust plans, there’s very little stopping you from doing it. So when we brought up that perhaps our second hike was better converted to a few easier to access locations, Jenna’s relief told us that was definitely our best bet. Hiking in a wedding dress, up a steep hill, at 12,000 feet, is probably more than enough adventure anyway! So to round out our night we stopped along the way back to their accommodation at a meadow, where they shared a first dance, and a waterfall, which we explored by lantern.

We’re thankful for Jenna + Cam’s adventurous spirit, in the face of some pretty daunting challenges. And I’m certain that dedication bodes well for the two of them, for the decades to come and beyond.

This elopement took place on Ute Land.

Photographs

Elopement Location: Aspen, Colorado
Elopement Photographer: Vow of the Wild

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