Our elopement adventure

Run, raft, marry, bike and hike

Jul 06, 2024

On July 7, 2007, I stood on the banks of Lake Dillon in Dillon, Colorado with the love of my life as we exchanged wedding vows. A short and sweet wedding ceremony marked the end of our seven-year courtship. Our elopement adventure was already underway.

Nuptials and adventures all rolled into one

Our decision to elope was borne out of a mutual desire to roll a vacation and a marriage ceremony into one. Personally, I was not in favor of planning a big wedding celebration when all I wanted to do was travel. Why spend money on a wedding and a reception when we could be spending money to travel?

Both our families knew we were planning to marry soon but we had not announced a date yet. Privately, we decided on a special date - July 7, 2007 or 7-07-07.

Our secret elopement was sealed when my nephew announced his impending nuptials for June, 2007. The entire family would be together for a big celebration the month before our elopement. Perfect.

We secretly invited my future brother-in-law, Tom and his two sons to attend our private wedding ceremony as our “official” witnesses.

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Destination Colorado

Colorado was a sentimental choice for both of us - we had made several trips there in the past - both winter and summer. On a trip there in the summer before our “planned” nuptials, we investigated a few places to hold an outdoor wedding ceremony. We settled on a spot near Lake Dillon and rented a condo in nearby Frisco for our week in July 2007.

Skiing at Tennessee Pass near Leadville, Colorado at 10,800 feet.

The days leading up to July 7

We flew into Denver, Colorado on July 3, 2007, drove to Frisco and checked into our condo. Frisco, located just off of Interstate I-70, offers numerous services - restaurants, coffee shops, bike rentals, grocery stores and is close to miles of scenic recreational bike paths and hiking trails.

Getting acclimated to the higher altitude

Since we had traveled to Colorado before, we were familiar with the need to get acclimated to the higher altitude. Staying in Frisco would help with that as its base elevation is 9,097 feet.

Independence Day 10K Trail Run

Three days before the wedding.

What better way to get my heart pumping for my wedding than to run up to the top of a ski peak at the Breckenridge Ski Area and then run down? And with hundreds of other runners on Independence Day.

Early on the 4th of July, Larry and I headed to Breckenridge to run the Independence Day 10K Trail Race. The race was not exactly 10K but it was close enough. Most of the running route was on single-wide trail and was rocky, knarly and twisty. We started running at 9,603 feet and climbed up to 10,423 before we ran down the mountain to the finish.

Today, they would term this event as a “sky race.”

My biggest fear was falling face first on the rocky trail and getting injured before my wedding day. Unfortunately, I did just that on the run down. I stumbled on a rock and fell face first into the dirt. I scraped my knee and upper leg badly enough that I needed medical attention at the first aid tent.

However, I finished the race and had a blast. What a way to start an elopement.

Whitewater rafting through Browns Canyon

Two days before the wedding.

To be honest, this was my first legitimate “whitewater” rafting ride on a river. I did not know what I was getting into. Larry’s brother, Tom, suggested a rafting trip through Browns Canyon National Monument on the Arkansas River. Since this was officially rated as a Class II-IV rapids trip and “great for children 8+ and first timers,” I thought this outing seemed manageable.

Some of the rapids were named Pinball, Zoom, Flume, the Staircase and Seidels Suckhole.

When we arrived for the rafting trip, the outfitter provided us with personal flotation devices, helmets and recommended a full wetsuit. However, all of us decided against the full wetsuit which ended up being a mistake.

All smiles in the photo below - before we embarked on our raft.

Pelting hail and hypothermia conditions prevailed

The trip was advertised as a full-day adventure and that included a bus shuttle at the end to bring us back to our car. We would have our own guide in the raft who would be steering. We would assist in paddling.

When we started going down the river, the weather was nice - not too hot and not too cold. As we entered the canyon, the skies began to get darker. Storm clouds were building. Colorado is famous for thunderstorms to form in the afternoon as a result of the buildup of moisture with hot air.

Before we knew it, rain started and it quickly turned to a light hail. Since we were in a canyon, there was nothing we could do to escape the hail - except paddle faster and try to keep warm. The temperature dropped - close to 50 degrees which means that you are susceptible to hypothermia - a serious condition when your core body temperature drops below 95 degrees and you shake intolerably.

Since I was very cold and wet, the rafting ride seemed to go on endlessly. I kept looking ahead for the place where we would disembark. I was shaking and needed to get warm soon. I was hoping that the shuttle bus would be there to take refuge in.

Finally, we made it to our destination. I was so happy to get back on dry land and start moving around - as best as I could. The shuttle bus eventually arrived and took us back to the start. However, it was a long ride back in wet clothes.

I survived to live another day - and make it to my wedding day.

Lucas, Tom, Patrick in the front. Jenn, Larry on the back right. The guide in the back left.

Marriage license and flowers - taking it easy

One day before the wedding.

Larry and I headed to the Summit County Court House in Breckenridge to get our marriage license and to buy a bouquet of flowers for me to hold during the ceremony.

The big day - July 7, 2007

At 10 AM, we converged on the bank of Lake Dillon in Dillon, Colorado. The day was beautiful. Our ceremony was simple and short. Judge Helmer presided. Larry and I signed the marriage certificate after the ceremony and we were off to more adventures!

The wedding party: Patrick, Tom, Larry and Lucas

Post wedding brunch and bike

No reception - just a quick bite to eat at a Frisco cafe and then we were off to ride our bikes on the recreational paths to Keystone, Colorado.

Out of the dress and on with the bike shorts. My kind of wedding day.

Tackling a 14er - Huron Peak on July 9

Two days after we married, we headed south to the Sawatch Range near Leadville, Colorado. Our objective on this day was to summit Huron Peak. We would need to leave very early in the morning to get to the trailhead. Since we had some experience in tackling mountain peaks in Colorado, we knew that to successfully summit and get back down safely, you need to start early. Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning are very common in the Colorado high peaks.

Huron Peak, a Colorado 14er, stands at 14,006 feet and is located in the Sawatch Range in south-central Colorado. It is said to have the best summit view of all the 14ers.

Our total round-trip hiking mileage would be about 7 miles with a total elevation gain of 3,500 feet - we would start hiking at about 10,575 feet and the peak is at 14,006 feet.

To read more about our climbing route, visit the 14ers.com website here.

Early start at the trailhead

Amazing wildflowers greeted us along the trail.

Stopping along the way to absorb the beauty of the Sawatch Range.

Larry approaching the summit of Huron Peak.

Amazing views on the summit of Huron Peak.

One of the best summit shots of my new hubby!

The photo below is taken from the 14ers.com website and shows our climbing route. It looks incredibly steep but with all the switchbacks in the trails, it is manageable. The key to successfully climbing this peak is to start early and get off the summit by mid-day before the thunderstorms roll in.

Biking from Frisco to Vail Pass

Our last day.

On our last day of adventures in Colorado, we biked the recreational paved trail from Frisco to Vail Pass. This route is about 25.8 miles roundtrip but you climb 1,664 feet to reach Vail Pass. The average grade of the climb is 2.8% but it can get up to 6.9% grade. The return trip is the reward - mostly downhill. All along the way, you have spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. A beautiful bike ride to mark the end of our amazing elopement adventure.