Our Engagement Story

In 2008, I started thinking of proposing. I was looking at a video (see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMgsvtZ8_Ic) from a recent ski trip, when I thought: “Now that would make a great backdrop for a proposal.”

Wanting it to be special, and thanks to some airline miles generously gifted to us from some family friends, I booked three trips to the Rockies for this ski season. Before the first trip, in January, a doggy emergency with Dolly (see the picture at the right!) canceled my lunch date with Beth’s dad, Hank, and I didn’t get to ask his permission. Despite perfect, snow-filled days in Utah, and despite having snuck the ring through security at the airport and paranoically hiding it in a pair of socks for the duration of the trip, I decided to wait.

I asked permission as soon as we returned. Hank, for those of you who know him, is certainly a product of the 1950s in which he grew up: "Gee! That is great! Wow! Well heck, it's fine by me...as long as she says yes!"

A few weeks later, and prior to our next trip, Hank informed me that "Mrs. Treger is very excited and having trouble keeping the secret! Keep that in mind out there in Wyoming!"

But what was I to do? Our whole trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming was forecasted to be warm and sunny (despite it being February!). Should I gamble and wait for our third trip, in March? Wait ‘til next year?

I didn't want to risk it. “Okay,” I thought, “warm, bluebird skies will have to do.”

Jackson Hole is often described as an Expert's mountain. Beth and I ski a lot and can handle most terrain, but there were certainly parts of Jackson that scared us like little kids. As a result of all the steep terrain, the gentler areas were usually pretty crowded. To get some privacy, I would have to coax Beth onto some of the more hairy terrain. After a couple days of trying (to no avail), the third morning of our trip presented itself: less crowded, and not a cloud in the sky. I had reviewed the trail map for a good spot, using care not to choose a trail with a name like "Lower Hoback" (a real trail!). I settled on the unassuming "Rawlins Bowl," and had Beth follow me in.

Beth and I often video tape each other, as well as our other friends, while skiing. Everyone is always disappointed to find that the videos don't always show the true difficulty of the trail. So I used the excuse of taking video footage to get me down hill from Beth, and told her I was going to "crouch down" (on one knee ;-) ) to try and capture "the true steepness of the trail."

As she approached, I tossed the camera in the snow and pulled out the ring. Her reaction? (see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTjsDIoKcjM).

“Did you ask my parents?”

Whoa! Dodged that bullet!

Hearing later that I had truly wanted to pop the question against a backdrop of a quiet snow storm, Beth assuaged me “Oh sunny skies are much more romantic! A snow storm? I would have been shivering cold taking off the my gloves to put the ring on!"

Better to be lucky than good, I guess!

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