How to Propose on a Summit, According to 3 Couples Who’ve Done It

My voice shook in the cold air as I knelt in front of my girlfriend, Syd.

“Will you marry me?” I nervously asked.

Syd’s face lit up with equal parts excitement and surprise. She crouched down till her eyes were nearly level with mine. “How sweet,” I thought to myself as she squeezed my arm tighter. “She wants to be at the same height as me.”

The reality? We were at 12,590 feet on the summit of Mount Conness in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and she was desperately trying not to tumble off the peak’s 800-foot north face. Despite my failure to find a flatter spot to propose, Syd replied with two incredible words: “Of course!”

Two of our friends, Andrew and Sara, joined us that day. As our irreplaceable confidants, they carried out their crucial roles flawlessly. Equipped with a high-resolution camera on an auto setting, Sara rapid-fired the shutter button. Meanwhile, Andrew took a flurry of pictures and videos with a cell phone to ensure we captured every moment.

All four of us enjoyed summit Champagne in disco-tiled flutes and a pint glass from the brewery where Syd and I went on our first date. As the sun set during our second-class descent, I confessed my original plans for this mountain proposal: a Himalayan expedition with a helicopter approach. But Plan A kept getting pushed back, causing an 18-month delay in my engagement bid. As we watched the sky turn a vibrant rainbow of pastels over the mountain range where Syd grew up, she simply replied, “This was perfect… and exactly what I wanted.”

Summit proposals: A growing trend?

As climbing inches further into the mainstream, I’ve seen summit proposals and roped-up engagements skyrocket in popularity. Social media posts, news articles, even a cliff-side wedding feature on The Weather Channel—popping the question on a summit seems to be everywhere these days. And why not? Can you picture a more idyllic setting for such a pivotal question?

Before you plan out your engagement day with your partner, follow these crucial do’s and don’ts I garnered from my own proposal climb. I also share insights from friends who’ve also gotten down on one knee in the mountains. Here’s everything you need to know about how to propose on a summit.

How to propose on a summit

Most importantly, pick the right objective

Where you propose is the most crucial aspect of a summit engagement. My fiancée Syd self-identifies as a “non-climber,” but she loves scrambling and moderate fifth class climbing in the alpine. She’s also become obsessed with bagging the SPS (Sierra Peaks Section). The Sierra Club arbitrarily compiled this list of 247 summits in the Sierra Nevada in 1955.

Mt. Conness (12,590 ft) and the neighboring North Peak (12,248ft) made for a perfect link-up day. Both SPS peaks have classic moderate routes leading to their respective summits. Syd topped out on Mt. Conness with plenty of energy to spare—and looking just as bubbly as she did at the trailhead.

An engagement day isn’t the time to climb the toughest route you or your partner have ever done. This is a day that will be special for reasons far beyond the hike or the climb itself. It’s also worth considering what season your partner would want for an engagement. “I would have preferred to be proposed to on snow, since skiing is more my thing,” Amber Chilcott said, alongside her husband and co-owner of Valhalla Mountain Guides, Connor Chilcott.

Connor proposed to Amber on the summit of Eichorn Pinnacle, in Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows. He had dreamed of using the spire as his engagement location since he was a teenager. “When I was 19, I first climbed Cathedral peak,” Connor explained. “I looked over at Eichorn Pinnacle and thought, If I ever wanna get married, I’m going to propose there.” While Amber doesn’t identify as a rock climber, Eichorn Pinnacle offers some friendly routes. Connor staged a friend of his on top of the nearby summit of Cathedral Peak to get the perfect shot.

As you’re combing through potential mountains or routes, don’t be afraid to keep it simple. Sometimes it’s much easier to propose on a scenic second-class hike than during a long multi-pitch climb. That’s especially true if you live far from the mountains or aren’t both intermediate or advanced climbers. If you or your partner are new to climbing, but you still want a dramatic backdrop, consider a non-technical summit hike in a place like Colorado, where there are plenty of 14ers to choose from. Just make sure you acclimatize properly; nothing ruins an engagement like altitude sickness.

Make photos a priority (if that’s important to you)

Besides your partner’s answer to the question, there might not be anything more important with an engagement than the photos. “Scout your proposal location ahead of time,” Connor Chillcott suggested. “Figure out exactly where your photographer should be, and where you’re going to get on one knee.”

For some, having a photographer as part of the team is either not possible or not wanted. “I loved that our new little secret stayed between us until we were back in cell-phone service,” climber Carolynn Hubbard shared about her engagement to her now-husband, Casey Hubbard, on a spire called “Zowie” in Rocky Mountain National Park.

If you do end up keeping the engagement to just the two of you, try to take as many photos of the day as possible. “I wish I had a few more pictures of the proposal, but I’ve always been awful at taking pictures on adventures,” Carolynn shared.

If you’re not bringing along photographer friends, you could also try setting up a tripod or GoPro to set up to capture the moment while keeping it as an intimate group of two. If you’re the one proposing, see if you can climb the pitch to the top first, or make your way to the summit first to set something up before your partner gets there.

For Syd’s and my engagement day, having our friends there with us felt like a luxury, since they were able to capture the proposal from multiple angles and ensure no moment was missed. They also helped us take photos throughout the entire day, from car-to-car. A high-resolution camera is not essential, but if you or a friend has one, it is definitely worth bringing along. While it can be challenging to orchestrate without dropping a hint, try to encourage your partner to wear layers, a helmet, and other gear that you know they love that day.

Safety first, love second

While there is never a good day to have a climbing accident, it would be especially bad if it happened on your engagement day. Be conservative, and choose a route well within your abilities. Even if you’re an experienced climber, keep calm and take your time. Sometimes the adrenaline and nerves of getting engaged can mess with your mindset, making you prone to cutting corners and mistakes.

“I saw a thunderstorm approaching and I was nervous, so I started rushing,” Connor Chillcott confessed of his summit engagement. “I pre-threaded the rappel on top of the Eichorn and ended up proposing to Amber without even being tied in.” Amber chimed in, “Yeah, that’s an absolute don’t do.”

Want to propose on a technical objective, but aren’t an expert climber? Consider hiring a guide or bringing along a more experienced friend for the day. They can even double as the photographer. That lets you focus on your job: popping the question. If you can spend a bit more money, hire one of the climbing photographers across the U.S. that’d be glad to help out with your big day. High-resolution images will come out better in print than photos taken with a cell phone.

For some, it’s really just about getting a spicy roped-up engagement photo. Propose wherever, then schedule a shoot after you get a “yes.” You can find a cliff closer to the car. Involve a climbing photographer who can help you get the most outrageous shot possible.

Chase a climbing proposal with a climbing wedding

While certainly more challenging to carry out with non-climbing guests, some climbing engagements have even led to climbing weddings or elopements. After getting engaged on Zowie spire, Carolynn and Casey Hubbard tied the knot on the summit of South Early Winters Spire in Washington’s Liberty Bell area.

“Of course we had to get married on a rock; nothing else made sense,” Carolynn reminisced. “We had the perfect little ceremony at the top, exchanged silicon wedding rings, took photos, and headed down.” Their friend Nate Pakula officiated the elopement, and Carolynn found some last-minute witnesses. “In the parking lot, two strangers signed as our witnesses on our marriage license and shared some Champagne out of Solo cups,” she recalls.

Wherever you pop the question, just remember: If it doesn’t go perfectly, it’ll make for an even more memorable day. Find an appropriate climb, take lots of photos, be conservative, and most importantly, enjoy it. This’ll be one of the best days of both of your lives.

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