Jeff Pengel had hiked Caribou Mountain in the White Mountain National Forest many times. In fact, he had been to its summit about 48 times in as many months and had eaten his snacks and enjoyed the view on those mostly solo day hikes never thinking that, someday, he would marry his sweetheart in that place.

Lisa Guay joined the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club in 2003. In 2004, when she carpooled to a 15-mile group hike in the Carter Range near Gorham, New Hampshire, she never expected to fall in love. The idea of getting married on a mountaintop had also never occurred to her. That is, until she met Jeff.

After dating for about a year, and continuing his monthly hikes up Caribou Mountain with his new partner, Jeff’s proposal was clever, but somewhat less than romantic: He left the partially completed marriage license in a kitchen drawer for Lisa to stumble across.

The decision to get married on Caribou Mountain, with its open rocky summit and views of Sunday River and the Presidential and Carter Ranges, was easy. With a 2828’ elevation, the hike could be done in about 5 hours and was a relatively gentle ascent. It was also a mountain that both had grown to love.

Although one might think that the weather would be the most significant logistical issue, for Jeff the “weather was never a real concern.” Lisa and Jeff were relatively flexible with respect to the date, as was the friend who they enlisted to officiate the ceremony. A small number of friends were invited to join them, and when the forecast looked promising and “the decision was made five days out,” the seven friends who still had that date free made plans to share the experience.

The only true logistical issue that they ran across was with the paperwork that would make the marriage legal. According to Lisa, “When it came time to fill out the actual paperwork we did not know the name of the town that the top of the mountain was in.” After enlisting the assistance of a fair number of town officials, they solved the mystery and filed the papers.

The only other “concern” would be Jeff’s nerves. “I do remember being very nervous in the parking lot pre-hike.” Shortly after beginning the hike, however, partly from the physical exertion, but also as a result of the silly wedding-day antics orchestrated by their friends, Jeff’s nervousness vanished. Those enthusiastic friends who joined them that morning brought a bridal veil and yellow roses for Lisa. Both Lisa and Jeff brought the vows that they had written.

About 30’ from the summit, Lisa and one very dear friend lingered behind while Jeff and the others continued to the top. She walked the last bit on the arm of her friend to meet her beloved on top of Caribou Mountain on a clear midsummer day. Then, with her hiking boots, yellow roses and white veil fluttering in the breeze, accompanied by the spontaneous singing of strangers who happened upon this scene, but graciously scattered to give them privacy, Lisa and Jeff recited their vows, slipped rings onto now steady fingers and, of course, celebrated that first married kiss.

After a mountaintop toast of champagne in paper cups, the group descended to the Bethel Inn for dinner and continued celebration. There would be other celebrations in the months to follow, with family and friends who were unable to make the hike. And then, on their first anniversary, there would be a rainy day hike back up to the top of Caribou Mountain in brightly colored raincoats. According to Lisa, getting married on top of a mountain, this mountain in particular, “fit our personalities.”

As for Jeff, he said, “I just wanted to marry Lisa”.

Robert Frost wrote,

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.” For couples considering a non-traditional wedding, Lisa’s recommendation is to “do what you love no matter what.” It will make all the difference.

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