In The Mountains of California, John Muir writes of a day spent hiking in the High Sierras: “In so wild and beautiful a region was spent my first day, every sight and sound inspiring, leading one far out of himself, yet feeding and building up his individuality.” The naturalist aptly describes my own experience of the mountains, which inspire in me transcendent awe for nature, juxtaposed by a terrestrial understanding of my physicality.

On this excursion, Matt and I entered Humphreys Basin by way of 11,400-foot Piute Pass. Due to this winter’s heavy snow season, the high peaks remained robed in white, and our trail frequently became a small stream of melted run-off. The basin appeared desolate and vast, with frozen lakes dotting the shadow cast by 14,000-foot Mt. Humphreys. Signs of late-coming spring arrived in wildflowers and birdcalls; we could imagine the verdant meadow that soon would carpet the basin floor.

As on previous trips, Matt and I lamented that we have not yet brought friends or family with us to hike in the High Sierras. Our reticence to do so grows out of our awareness of the high country’s ruggedness and lack of low-elevation access points: the most spectacular scenery requires a several-thousand foot elevation gain to summit a 10,000+ foot pass, all while carrying a weighty pack.

While it is not impossible to complete a hike of this nature over the course of a weekend, a longer trip enables one’s body to acclimatize to the altitude and physical demands of the trail. When Matt and I hiked the 210-mile John Muir trail in the Sierras several years ago, we spent the first seven days of the hike in misery, nursing blisters, headaches, and spent muscles. We even briefly considered quitting the trail – it was just that hard.

In time, however, we became more prepared for the physical and mental challenges of hiking the Sierras, and we came to appreciate our internal journeys, even as we reeled from the beauty that surrounded us. Matt and I now describe our hike on the JMT as one of the most transformative experiences of our lives, and we frequently recollect moments from that trip.

Given Matt’s and my love for the mountains, it is only appropriate that we began yet another journey in the Sierras this weekend. We hiked cross-country to the top of a ridge that overlooked a frozen cirque and the Lost Lakes. There, Matt asked me to marry him, and – in full knowledge of both my soaring potential and human frailty – I said yes.