Eagle Cap Wilderness Backpacking Elopement
Eagle Cap Wilderness Backpacking Elopement
Skylar and Kody have been backpacking in the Wallowas and Eagle Cap Wilderness several times and it was an easy choice for them to choose this area for their elopement! After originally planning for a 2022 elopement and then having to postpone a year due to some unexpected work schedule changes, it was such an amazing feeling to see this day finally come and hit the trails with S & K. The five of us (Garrett joined and shot video and Rudy their cute pup joined!) met up at the trailhead the night before and we all camped there and had burgers (courtesy of Kody for packing all the cooking gear and food!). We then agreed to a 5:30am wakeup call so we could beat the heat on the hardest part of the trail. We backpacked in about 7 miles to a beautiful lake and set up camp. Garrett and I had never been to the Wallowas before and WOW were we blown away! This area reminded me so much of the High Sierra on the PCT in California and the Enchantments in Washington. We couldn’t believe this was in Oregon! Streams meandering through meadows, wildflowers, gorgeous alpine lakes, and so much more. We got to the lake pretty early, so we all had snacks, napped, applied a ton of bug spray (there were SO many mosquitoes, but to be expected in mid July) and some of us went for a dip in the lake! After relaxing and resting up, we headed up to their ceremony location overlooking the lake we were camped at. The day started out super bright and hot, but as we were hiking to their ceremony site the weather changed a bit and it became pretty overcast. We weren’t sure if we’d get much of a sunset, but we were so wrong! The sunset was absolutely incredible! Anyway, once we got to the ceremony overlook spot (a beautiful cliff overlooking the valley full of meadows we had just hiked through), Sky and Kody finished writing their vows into their vow books and then started to get ready. They shared a first look and then had the most beautiful ceremony. They’ve been together for 11 years, so they started their ceremony by first exchanging some of their favorite memories over the years. It was such a beautiful moment to witness! After pronouncing them, we explored around the area and took portraits all while enjoying the gorgeous sunset! Then we hiked back to camp and made dinner. We finished off the trip with a sunrise and morning casual couples session at the lake. We hiked out shortly after. It was truly such a beautiful trip in a place that really took our breathe away. This was a first backpacking elopement (besides our own!) and it was definitely one for the books! A huge thank you to Skylar and Kody for bringing us out there!
