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Ain't No Mountain High Enough - The Engagement Story

3/22/2014

24 Comments

 
PictureCarihuairazo
“Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.”
-Jeffery Rasely

In this case, I was chasing an angel. While there's much to report these days, I thought I’d start with a fine little tale about a well-traveled ring and how it finally made it to the place it belonged.

It began sometime last November while I was walking down the street, as I do most days, and BAM, it hit me - it was time to ask Lynsey to marry me. “How did you know it was the right time?” I only knew that the time was right because the time was right, if that makes sense. A ring? Where to begin? After a great visit from Emily and Courtney (two of Lynsey’s closest friends from Chicago, both ring savvy and with excellent taste), I had a solid idea of what was right for Lynsey. We came across a gorgeous vintage band and setting online from a studio that happened to be in Harvard Square near Boston (Rebekah Brooks Studio). The emails commenced, and thanks the flexibility of the folks in MA we figured out the fine necessities to make this great scheme work - I wanted to propose in Ecuador. Through an army of help from "the fellowship of the ring" led by my brother, Brad, and great friend, Zack, the ring was ready in Chicago the day before Zack was scheduled to visit us down here. The band turned out perfect for her; vintage, classy, and subtle (nice with unpolished white gold in its original color), and even complete with a family diamond from my grandmother, Gladys Parker, who passed away many years before I was born. From my grandmother, the ring then went on to my mother's finger years ago and was now waiting for me. I like to imagine what Grandma Parker's reaction would be knowing her diamond was on its way to Ecuador for the hair-brained grandson she never met. I’m sure it would be kind and sweet, just the way my Dad describes her.
Picture
Grandma Parker and my mom's beautiful gift to us.
The ring made it! Zack is a meticulously detail-oriented guy and I knew I could trust him. Arriving in Quito, Zack and I still had a week to spend together in the north of Ecuador before we would return to Cuenca where the ring could safely be stored before the big day. On top of that, our plan was to climb three mountains in the span of the week. Leave the ring in the hostel? Creo que no. The ring, just a toddler really, got it’s first taste of altitude as it accompanied us up Ruccu Pichincha, Cerro Imbabura, and nearly to the top of Nevado Cayambe. I had to, of course, make sure it was acclimatized for the big day when we’d hit the nevado to find its intended destination, Lynsey’s left hand.
Next came a week of waiting in Cuenca before Lynsey and I had our weekend expedition. A couple of months earlier I had proposed the idea, let’s climb Carihuairazo together. As the most accessible “beginner's” peak to get a taste of mountaineering in Ecuador, I crossed my fingers that Lynsey would realize her own abilities and agree to it. There isn’t a mountain I think Lynsey couldn’t climb with the right preparation, honestly, but the trick is getting her to realize that. She did agree, and I knew then that there were some forces aligning. I would propose on the top, we'd just have to get there first…

Though Carihuairazo is a “beginner’s” peak, it still has its challenges. At 16,463 feet, climbers still have a solid, steep (but short) march to the top, and cold is always a concern. I knew my ganas (motivation) for getting up was the proposal, but what if Lynsey wasn’t feeling it that day? What if the sky spat rain and hail into a thick soup of fog and the guides were uncomfortable about the ascent? What if?

All of those questions floated around my mind during the weeks of training leading up to the climb. We met our faithful little group of “mountain people” in the park and ran the slopes and steeps of Cuenca - a truly great training ground at over 8,000 feet. She was strong, she was ready, and I'd just have to see what kind of hand we were dealt on the slopes of the giant.
Picture
Grandfather Chimbo
The early trip was great. We took a beautiful drive past Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak, and stood wide-eyed and the awesome size of the mountain. There was an easy hike into base camp followed by lots of hanging out, cooking food, and chatting it up en español. Only one person knew what I was planning; a friend named Daniel who was my rope-mate on the ascent of the south face of Cotopaxi a few months prior. He happens to be an amazing photographer, and had promised to get a few shots of the moment, if or when it came. With the rest of my friends, on the one hand, I wanted to give them the wink, the sign, or a grin that I had something big planned. On the other hand, I had a great secret that was mine and I reveled in it while I could.

We woke at 3 a.m., late for a summit bid, but the ascent wasn’t so long as some of the others. Lynsey seemed ready, strong, and excited for the outing, a great sign. I carefully checked my backpack for a small white box packed alongside my GPS, and we were off.

What appeared to be fog blurring the light from our headlamps was soon realized to be volcanic ash from the erupting Tungurahua (near Baños de Ambato). We moved through it and up a rocky section that has undoubtedly seen great changes in the recent past with the warming temperatures. People say the mountain was once covered with a great glacier, but the ice now had receded back to only make up a rocky glacial mix towards the top. We were almost there! One last chute to ascend and I’d have my chance. The first group began up and struggled through the nasty, loose rock. We watched nervously as they unintentionally kicked down rocks of all sizes, forcing us to hide behind small cliff faces to avoid the crashing from above. This was a sketchy spot, and waiting around at the bottom seemed to be the most dangerous option of all.
After some indecision on the part of the guides, I proposed to lead a team of five across the chute to get beyond the trajectory of the rocks. There was another short route to the top that involved scaling an icy, rocky trail, but it was clearly better than trying to follow the team above in the rotten chute. I grabbed Lynsey and three others and we quickly started across the chute. Lynsey moved like a cat, determined to get to the safer route, while two other girls hesitated and froze in the middle. After some very direct encouragement to get-your-butt-moving the others got across. My girl could handle this, and in that moment I knew I was going to have my chance.

We carefully climbed the icy rocks until arriving at a small flat spot just below the spired summit of the mountain, our destination. Immediately the guides put together a group shot, which we did, and as I began to plan my next move I heard, “¡Bajense!” They wanted to go down! Wait! I grabbed Lynsey, gave a wink to my buddy Daniel, and sat her down on a rocky seat near a beautiful, chilly notch in the mountain. Daniel moved in with the camera a bit early, and in the urgency of the moment I wildly tried to remember the words I'd rehearsed before. It seemed they’d been whisked away with the howling wind, so instead, as nearly always ends up happening with me, I went with the words that found me. After some fumbling with huge gloves and a frozen pack, I managed to pull out the ring in time to ask Lynsey to be my wife, and she said yes. Through wide smiles, red cheeks, and snotty noses we laughed at the good fortune of finding each other, and the mountain disappeared for a moment. It was just her and me, and it’s going to stay that way for a long time, no matter where the winds of change whisk us off to next...
Picture
Fumbling to get the damn thing out!
Picture
The spot, the moment, a yes!
Picture
Now, it's hard to even remember the cold up there.
Picture
Next day engagement celebration in our beloved Cuenca.
...and as it turns out the winds will soon be carrying us to be Seattle, bringing our time in Cuenca to an end, and this is the next story to be told.

To mountains, to love, to life!
24 Comments
marc ankenbauer
3/22/2014 07:24:15 am

Congratulations my friend. I look forward to meeting Lindsey some day. Safe Travels friends.

Reply
Josh
3/22/2014 09:30:29 am

Thanks Marc - and I'm ready for world to collide sometime soon out west. I'll keep ya posted.

Reply
Angela Nadler
3/22/2014 08:14:32 am

Loved your guys story! Seattle?!?!? How exciting!!! Can't wait to hear more details! :)

Congrats you two!

Reply
Josh
3/22/2014 09:31:26 am

Thanks Angela - and yup, Seattle is the next step after a wedding this fall back in the States. Happy planning on your own adventure coming up!

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Danielle
3/22/2014 08:42:29 am

Could not be happier for you guys! Thanks for sharing the beautiful story and pictures!!! See you in a few short weeks. Love you both!

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Josh
3/22/2014 09:32:14 am

D! Thanks and WE can't wait to see YOU (and ok, Brad too) so very soon. weLYguys2

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Aunt Linda
3/22/2014 08:57:50 am

What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it. Congratulations guys!

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Lynsey
3/22/2014 03:04:40 pm

Thanks Aunt Linda! He did a good job, indeed. :) See you in a few weeks!

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susan parker
3/22/2014 10:53:25 am

What a wonderful story for a beautiful couple. And full of adventure as would be expected. We couldn't be happier to officially welcome Lynsey to our little family ( even though I always already considered her a part of it.) It will be great to see both of you in May. We'll have some special celebrations planned! Love you both lots! Mom

Reply
Josh
3/23/2014 01:45:05 am

Thanks Ma! Our celebrations are just around the corner - much to be glad for. We love you lots and nos vemos pronto!

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padre parker
3/23/2014 03:34:12 am

It's Camelot in the Crags! Josh is Prince Charming, Lynsey Princess Disarming. Isn't there a cable channel specializing in stories of meeting, going together, engagement, marriage, parenthood (don't hurry up, guys, but do remember my 73rd will be celebrated a month early in the May month of celebration.) "Time's winged chariot" might have only one wing now, but my how time flies...
Josh, I was touched by your words of your Grandma Parker. Her response to your elevatting her ring to 16+K feet, is just as you said, sweet and kind. And she wouldn't call you hair-brained--it would be dare-brained! And Lynsey is Ms. Care-brained.
Gotta go to the UU forum at 3rd on the New Jim Crow.
Love you guys. Counting the days to May like it was Christmas!
Padre

Reply
Josh
3/25/2014 02:34:26 pm

Padre - thanks for your kind, playful words that put a poetic hue on everything we do! We're counting the days too, be sure of it!

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Karen lloyd
3/23/2014 05:34:09 am

Great story, congratulations!

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Josh
3/25/2014 02:34:58 pm

Thanks Karen! Hope we can catch up soon and meet the little one!

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Brad
3/23/2014 12:03:21 pm

Given all that could of happened to delay and/or reschedule the proposal, it's pretty amazing to reflect back on it falling into place perfectly. A little risk, a big reward, pretty much symbolic of your journey(s) in Ec! And I'm glad you chose a "unique" spot for the proposal, considering the "unique" setting of your unplanned meeting! Cheers to Christmas in May, and then October again too.

Reply
Josh
3/25/2014 02:36:25 pm

Meet at (the horrible) Red Ivy, get engaged on a mountaintop in Ecuador - glad it makes strange sense to you too!

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Tia Jody
3/24/2014 01:00:37 pm

Josh, your comments, especially those about my mother, moved me to tears, both of joy for the occasion and sorrow that she didn't get to live long enough to experience the thrill of being a grandmother. Even when I was in high school she was remarking to people how she looked forward to having grandchildren. She would have loved you and Lynsey dearly and deeply. Thank you, again, for your loving, lovely words.

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Josh
3/25/2014 02:39:03 pm

Jody, though time couldn't allow us to meet Grandma Parker, your and my dad's words bind us nonetheless. Part of her memory lives in Lynsey's ring, and I, like you, am glad for that.

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Michael Eng
3/24/2014 08:51:12 pm

What an awesome story!!! I can't wait to see you all and celebrate! Thanks for sharing with all of us.

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Josh
3/25/2014 02:40:21 pm

Can't believe it all went off without a flaw - you know I was tweekin' big time when those rocks were coming at our heads! We're also ready for some celebration in the near, near future my friend.

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Sharon & Jerry Wiggins link
3/25/2014 06:23:40 am

Congratulation to you two adventurers! Your energy and joy are almost palpable in your words and photos. Happy planning -- may the magic continue.

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Josh
3/25/2014 02:41:25 pm

Sharon and Jerry - thanks! Glad we could share our little moment with you, and hope our paths cross again sometime soon (in Appalachia rather than the Midwest)!

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Mimi
3/25/2014 11:39:17 am

Oh, Josh, you dear young romantic.....what a love story you're writing in words and pictures to someday share with your children and "grands". I'm so glad at ninety to be here to share it with both of you. Lynsey knows of my love for her; I've already shared that with her!! The ring is gorgeous.

Reply
Josh
3/25/2014 02:45:06 pm

Mimi - WE'RE so glad to be sharing this experience with YOU. And thank you for not scolding me for bringing Lynsey up this rotten old mountain, though I'm sure you know by now I had to! We love you mucho and are already looking forward to seeing you in just a few short months.

Reply



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