So I have known Mandi & Neil for years.  When we first started planning their shoot, it was totally perfect for them.  Glacier Park.  The most beautiful place around and it happened to be the place that Neil originally popped the question!  (more on that later…)  We started their shoot at Apgar for obvious reasons… that view though.  You can see how these two are as a couple right from the start!

After Apgar, we drove up to Logan Pass.  It was Wednesday and it’s August… so I honestly did not expect the amount of traffic we had that day.  Also, road construction.  But it was the first time I had done the drive this year, so I soaked up every moment of it.  We got to the top and the sign said that the parking lot was FULL.  On a Wednesday?! We soon discovered why everyone decided to drive up there, or stay, rather; there was a family of bears on one of the peaks up there and everyone wanted to take a peek.  Seriously though, I have been going to GNP since I was a kid and I have never seen it that busy up there!  I drove around in my car trying to find a spot for a good 15 minutes before I finally jumped out and let Mandi’s dad take over!  We hiked up the trail and started to shoot at a gorgeous spot when a random citizen decided to tell us to stay on the trail, which foiled our plan.  We tried to hurry up and get the shot and then a park ranger came by (who was actually quite pleasant) and told us WHY we needed to be on the trail but then pointed us in the direction of an even prettier spot to get our photos!  Here are some of those ♥ this is the spot we weren’t allowed to shoot at ^^ SO pretty right? 

Who am I kidding, it’s all gorgeous up there!  I did love those wildflowers in the first spot though, dang it. Oh, did I mention Mandi’s bff Keirsta was with us the whole day?  She was secretly taking some behind the scenes photos while we were shooting! When I got these photos, I knew they had to be included in this fun blog.  Thanks Kiersta!

We decided to head to the next location.  On our way down, we were making our way through the millions of people standing on the trail trying to find the bears when suddenly we hear high pitched yelling to our left.  We look up and there was a guy looking at a rock or a flower or something off of the trail.  The park ranger must have been having a doozy of a day because she was fired up.  She was yelling so loud, everyone stopped and looked at her but the guy she was yelling at? Completely oblivious.  We are sure he had his headphones on.. otherwise he would have probably started running from her.  I think she even picked something up to throw at him at one point.  I am telling you, it was craziness up there!

 When we got to the next location, even that parking lot was full.  I mean seriously.  It is WEDNESDAY people!   We drove our cars back to another parking lot to park.  I loaded up my shootsac and jumped in with them.  We then parked in a parking spot that I am almost positive wasn’t actually a parking spot, lol but who cares, we were all there and ready to go!  We started our hike and I got to hear the story of how Neil and Mandi met and all of his big plans for his proposal up in Glacier.  He originally wanted to propose to her at the waterfall we were hiking to but there were fires going through all last summer so he had to find another spot!

Here is where the story gets REALLY interesting.  We made it to the first waterfall and I stopped to take a photo for Morgan because I was planning to take him and Mil on this hike sometime in the future.  I pick up my camera and go to take the shot and nothing happens.   You guessed it… dead battery.  Guess where my other FULL batteries were?  Yep.  Back in MY car at the other parking lot that we had to park at because the lower one was full.  That meant a hike back to the trailhead, jump in the car and possibly lose our parking spot, that wasn’t a parking spot, go get the batteries and drive back and pray that we still had our spot!  So the whole way back, I scanned every hiker walking towards the falls and asked them what kind of camera they had.  I was desperate lol.  We eventually made it back but somehow we took a wrong turn so we had to hoof it on the pavement back to the trailhead! 

loving this positivity ^^

We got the battery and began our trek back to the first waterfall, where Neil was waiting for us.  We made it back in record time but at that point I legitimately was starting to die.  I think my out of shape mom bod was starting to shut down, for real.  Still, we continued on to Virginia Falls! I think we had to stop at least 7 more times for me to catch my breath and hope I didn’t just completely pass out and fall over!  SO.out.of.shape.  We eventually made it.  I felt like an Olympian crossing the finish line with everyone clapping for me in rows.   I sat down and caught my breath and vowed to get my big booty back into the gym when all of this was over.  Everyone kept staying the falls were worth the hike.  They were right ♥  

I love how everyone continued to have fun, even with the battery fiasco. 

we, of course, had to get some of Kiersta! 

Kiralee looks haggard here ^^  but I really did have fun and it was a memorable experience!

Moral of the story? When you are planning a hike, eat before you go.  Or bring food. Don’t be a dummy like me and plan to eat when you are all done. Also, don’t forget your battery.  Oh, and exercise.  It really does come in handy when you least expect it!

Thanks for having me on your adventure you guys!  I love watching your love story and I can’t wait to see you two make it official ♥

thanks for reading our fun story ♥

xoxo