Fire Lookout Backpacking Elopement in the North Cascades

Sarah and John choose to elope in the Mt. Baker area. When they first reached out, they were considering a sunrise elopement in the mountains. After some fun brainstorming and hearing about their love for big adventures in the mountains and backpacking, I suggested a possible backpacking elopement. It ended up being the perfect option for them. The week of their elopement the weather moody and the night of their elopement it called for thunderstorms. Getting to stay in the lookout is on a first come first served basis, so we weren’t sure if we’d get it or not. We left early in hopes of getting it, but if we didn’t our plan was go back down to the parking lot, because we definitely didn’t want to be in tents during a lighting storm. Our original plan was to camp in the lookout and then wake up early for a sunrise ceremony. We totally lucked out and got the lookout! With the weather looking not as good the next morning we decided to go for a sunset ceremony and portraits just in case the next morning was crappy weather. It worked out perfectly! We hiked up to the lookout, set up our camping gear, and Sarah and John started to get ready for the ceremony. We organized a first look and then found a spot for them to exchange vows. The weather started to shift towards the evening and it got super cold windy, so we ran around getting as much portraits as we could and then went into the fire lookout for a string light lit first dance.

Then another adventure began! We got in our sleeping bags and about an hour later the wind came up really strong and then the rain and lightening storm came! It was quite an experience. We learned the fire lookout definitely has some leaks and all the storm doors rattled around so much it was very loud! I was hoping to get some photos of the lightening, but the clouds were so thick that you really couldn’t capture it. Sarah and John handled the experience so well, I think I was the one that was the most afraid and I’ve spent a lot of nights outside. Something about being on the tippy top of a mountain during a storm was very unnerving! But it was an amazing experience! The next morning we enjoyed a gorgeous moody sunrise and then hiked back down the mountain. We were greeted with beautiful rainbows and light rain. I think this elopement will stick with me as a core memory for a long time and I’m so happy it all went smoothly for Sarah and John.

Backpacking Elopement Photographer

Want to plan your own backpacking elopement? There are so many different ways to do it. You can hike in just a couple miles and set up camp or you can go further to get off the beaten path and get to some incredible places that you just can’t do in a single day elopement. I’ve solo backpacked over 1,500 miles, including hiking through the state of Oregon. I’m experienced in the backcountry, know how to embrace type 2 fun, and I’m here to help plan a seamless day.