Meghan & Hilary Celebrate Two Years with Hike to Top of Mt. Major

Swell & Stone / New England Wedding Photographer

I met Megan & Hilary at the trailhead to Mt. Major in New Hampshire on a cold, but sunny Monday afternoon in February for their adventure session to take some photos in celebration of 2 years together. It was also a few days after Valentine’s Day, so great timing to have some photos done. They brought their adorable puppy, Walter, along for the hike, and he had the best time running ahead and then circling back to see what was taking us so long. I love when couples bring dogs for the hikes because they have so much fun and the joy factor is increased seeing their pup get to jump and play in the snow.

Megan and Hilary met at the climbing gym and quickly found that their shared passions drew them closer and they often found themselves deep in conversation. As Megan tells it, "I noted our similar values, including outdoor adventure and social justice, and also loved how much the two of us laughed together. We could spend so much time talking- we sat at bars until last call more than once! I also remember her bringing me a "purse beer" for my birthday (that's a beer that you conveniently carry in your purse). I insisted we go back to her place to split it, which is when I first met Walt, and also the first time I asked to kiss her." Hilary, on the other hand, had no freaking idea that Megan had an enormous crush on her. Eventually, she figured it out and they started dating.

As we hiked up the mountain we stopped and took photos where the light was good, and moving quickly when we weren’t throwing snowballs or taking pics. Actually, these two hiked so quickly that we summited way before I thought we were going to, and the reason why became obvious as we were hiking and chatting. They were reminiscing on many of the hikes they’ve done together and noted that they needed more easy days out, like hiking Mt. Major. When I asked what some of the hikes that they are used to doing together were like, they said they had done the Presidential Traverse (20.4 miles and 8,200 ft. of elevation gain) in one day! I had also done the Presidential Traverse, but I did it in 3 days and could not imagine doing it in one. They noted that they often take on intense outdoor objectives together, but that they both love mellow multi-pitch trad climbs, something we could all agree on.

When I asked what their perfect day would like that if they could choose to do absolutely anything, they said it would be like a day they had last summer. “Hands down we would rock climb Standard Route on Whitehorse Ledge in North Conway, or any similar low-grade, long, multi-pitch trad route. We'd then crack an ice-cold beer, meet up with our dog Walter, and jump in a lake. Then we'd definitely head to a barbecue or Thai restaurant for dinner, and finish it out with a bonfire.” Which sounds like a pretty perfect day.

We crested the summit to a cold and windy peak where we hid behind a rock barrier for a bit to crack open some hard cider’s they had brought along and celebrate the summit. After a bit, we ventured out and took some photos of the incredible view looking out at Lake Winnipesaukee and toward the White Mountains. Although I have summited the mountain a few times before, neither of them had, so they were happy to add another summit to their list in an area of New Hampshire they hadn’t visited as often as their beloved White Mountains.

As we hiked back down, the sun lowered on the horizon and Walter’s trail zoomies slowed a bit. We continued chatting about climbing, snowboarding, and hiking, and I was so grateful to have gone on this fun adventure with this amazing couple and their pup. And I was so excited to edit the photos and send them along. Of course, I was over the moon when they were kind enough to leave me a review after seeing the photos.