Hiking Elopement in the Sawtooths

Stephanie and Tyler’s hiking elopement in the Sawtooths was nothing short of a memorable one of a kind adventure elopement. The moment I met Stephanie over cocktails at the Water Bear Bar in downtown Boise, I felt like I found a long lost friend. Stephanie and I bonded right away over going through an extremely hard year of loss while simultaneously experiencing some of the highest highs life can offer. She shared with me that she and Tyler wanted to celebrate their six years together by having a hiking elopement in the Sawtooths that felt true to who they are. They share a deep love of the mountains and backpacking. Telling me the story of their grand backpacking trip from Grand Jean to Alice-Toxaway Loop a few years prior, Stephanie lit up when she was talking about being in the mountains. She told me that being in the Sawtooths was the closest thing she felt to going to church. Despite not being religious, she and Tyler both felt most spiritual in the nature.

Hiking to Sawtooth Lake

The Sawtooths in September can be precarious. Actually, they pretty much always are. The unpredictable nature of the Sawtooths is what makes it so magical. I am constantly in awe of the way the mountains change. The Sawtooths are their own character. I prepared Stephanie and Tyler with a couple backup plans in case the weather changed. However, our main goal was to hike all 12 miles of the Sawtooth Lake Trail.

Tips for Hiking in the Sawtooths

Check the weather! It sounds like a no brainer, but it can snow/rain any day of the year. Check the radar and cloud patterns up until the moment you hit the trail.
Pack lots of water. It’s always best to be prepared. The high elevation can be hard for anyone to adjust to! Sun exposure, altitude, and the dry climate dehydrates you.
Be bear prepared! Although rare, black bears do live in the Sawtooths.
Tell people back home when to expect to hear from you. Cell service can be spotty so it’s best to warn your people when to hear from you in case of emergencies.
Backup plans are good! Be prepared to change plans if you need to.

The Best Hikes in the Sawtooths to Elope

Sawtooth Lake 12 miles RT, 1800 ft elevation gain.
Bench Lakes 8 miles RT, 1200 ft elevation gain.
Fishook Creek 4.5 miles RT, 288 ft elevation gain.
Alice Lake 12 miles RT, 1800 ft elevation gain.
Imogene Lake 13.4 miles RT, 1500 ft elevation gain.

Stephanie & Tyler’s Hiking Elopement in the Sawtooths

For weeks I watched weather forecasts leading up to Stephanie and Tyler’s big elopement day. Although we had solid backup plans in place, I wanted their dream come true elopement experience. Sure enough, the weather showed a 10% chance of rain and a high of 55 degrees. The morning of, I woke up feeling magic in the air. I knew in my gut that their dream day was going to happen exactly how we dreamed.

We started their morning by getting breakfast at the Stanley Bakery! Even though I was too anxious to eat, I still ate some scrambled eggs and as much protein as I could. After a quick breakfast, we headed to the trailhead.

There were so many moments that stand out to me.

Stephanie and Tyler shared with me that their wish for their wedding photos was that they weren’t posed at all. Shooting documentary style only is something I am definitely happy to offer. I want couples to feel empowered to make decisions that reflect who they are. Some people want a lot of direction and poses while some want only documentary.

Stephanie and Tyler’s Elopement Ceremony

Together, we hiked 6 miles to the top of Sawtooth Lake. We stopped periodically to drink water, soak in the moment, and catch our breath. I stayed far enough behind that I could capture candid moments of the pair of them walking together and also captured the changing landscape as we hiked. Every so often, the sun shone through, but the weather stayed mostly cloudy and absolutely perfect the entire way.

Just as we crested the last bit of the uphill hike, the weather suddenly turned. In a mad dash, I told Stephanie and Tyler to change into their wedding clothes. I saw a giant purple cloud heading right towards us and snow swirls were starting. However, we had made it all the way to the top and knew we couldn’t turn back just yet.

Sure enough, snow fell as Stephanie and Tyler exchanged vows. Prior to their hiking elopement in the Sawtooths, they wrote private letters to one another and also built a wooden box to seal their vows in to open on their future anniversary. The way these two held one another, cried softly, and committed forever to one another was unbelievable to capture. There was just so much emotion I was tearing up as I snapped photos of every little detail: from Tyler’s runny nose, the wind in Stephanie’s hair, the aqua marine color of the glacial Sawtooth lake, and more. It was perfect.

After saying I do, we hiked down the mountain together. The feeling of pure elation after saying I Do in a September snowstorm and hiking such an intense hike together was so personal and bonding. It made me fall in love with being a photographer again. We experienced and shared such a magical memory together.

Thank you Stephanie and Tyler!