Jan 02 2022 - Nakiska & Grotto Canyon

It’s crazy to look back at these photos and realize we had been dating for less than a week. We weren't even DATING dating yet! But there was this undeniable pull between us. We were both fairly new to the whole skiing and snowboarding scene, so we decided to head out to Nakiska just to chill, figure things out, and see if we could survive a mountain together.

Skiers on the slope at Nakiska
A beautiful, crisp day at Nakiska. Perfect conditions for falling down and getting back up again.
Sarah sitting on a snowboard
Sarah taking a much-needed break on her board. She looked so cute bundled up in all her gear.

After surviving the slopes, we weren't ready for the day to end, so we headed over to hike Grotto Canyon. We spent the afternoon wandering through the gorge, slipping around on the ice, and just enjoying each other's company. We stumbled upon these massive, beautiful frozen waterfalls that felt like they were straight out of a fairy tale.

Crouching in the canyon
Me trying to look cool on the rocks. I was definitely just trying to impress her at this point.
Sarah walking by the ice
Walking on a literal river of ice. Look at that gorgeous blue freeze!
Sarah looking up at the frozen waterfall
Sarah marveling at the towering frozen waterfalls.
Looking up at the same waterfall
My turn! We were just in awe of how massive these structures were.
Sarah taking a picture of the ice
Caught her trying to get the absolute perfect angle of the ice. Dedication!

Of course, after a long day in the freezing cold, there was only one logical way to warm up: Ramen. We found a spot and completely devoured our bowls.

A single bowl of delicious ramen
The holy grail of post-winter-hike meals.
Two bowls of ramen on the table
Nothing beats sharing a hot meal with the person you're falling for.

This trip was pure magic, and it set the tone for everything that came next. Little did we know that just the very next weekend, we'd be sitting in my car back in Edmonton, keeping the engine running just to stay warm while watching Arcane, and me dropping I love you and sharing our first kiss together.

It wouldn't be long after these early adventures that we realized living on opposite ends of Edmonton was a nightmare. I was starting a brand new job on January 5th, and my place in Albany was just too far of a commute. So, on January 4th, I packed a bag and officially stayed the night at her place in Capilano. What was supposed to be a practical sleepover to make it to work on time quickly turned into us never wanting to be apart. We took the leap, moved in together permanently, and the rest is history. This day in the ice and snow was just the beautiful beginning.