Alpine Lakes High Camp

ding together by the woodstove, the quiet, empty trails through the woods and across the ridges. Then one evening we were home and it hit us: We should get married there! We rented the entire High Camp and invited ~45 of our closest friends and family. The owner, Justin, was incredibly warm and we connected with him immediately as we began our initial discussions. We loved that High Camp was special not because of the fancy accomodations (they are not fancy!), but because of the remote location that instills a sense of rare freedom and closeness. We were glad that they didn't offer packages with set prices for food and wine and etc. - that's just not our style - and my wife did an INCREDIBLE job building out the meal list, packing things away into boxes for each cabin to own a dish or meal, and making sure everyone was ready to jump in with friends and get some food and drinks made! Logistics to get everyone to High Camp weren't too bad and we got very lucky with no delayed arrivals. We rented an AirBnB near Leavenworth for the night prior (and by the way, although we rented a huge place with a hot tub and etc., the experience was incomparible to being up at high camp), and then in the morning we went up in groups. It was snowing as the rovers met everyone in the high camp lot and Justin gave the talk. As we went up towards high camp, the happiness built and built. Everyone was feeling the excitement of ascending into the higher country and away from roads, noise, distractions, and everything else we leave back home. Our plan for the weekend was loose and mostly consisted of folks going out on big snowshoe groups, doing back country skiing, hot tubbing, and - oh yah - the vows! High Camp was full of friends, love, and laughter and as I walked around I felt a deep sense of contentment. You just don't get many opportunities in life to see your friends and family in this way. In fact, I probably won't ever get to see it again. It was so special. As we wrapped up our magical weekend and said goodbye to our friends with hugs and kisses, my wife and I felt a glow of hapiness that I can still go back to in my mind with perfectly clarity. It was an unbelievable, unforgettable, absolutely magical wedding of our dreams.