Patagonia brought out its finest for them. Between sunshine, wind, rain, and clouds, Caitlin and Tim said their vows, read from scripture, and exchanged rings. We scrambled over boulders and marveled at the gem-colored waters of the “Laguna” before us. After exploring the extents of walkable terrain around the lake, Caitlin and Tim popped champagne while it rained sideways with the wind. They hugged tight, stoked beyond stoked to experience the fullness of joy and love and adventure with Patagonia’s infamous weather. And just as soon as it came, the clouds cleared and we hiked down in dry weather to camp for the night.

We set up our tents at the base of the steepest part, then made our way up the trail to see the lake at sunset. Kasey and Erich changed into their wedding clothes and held each other close while a chilly breeze danced across the water. Pleasant weather by Patagonia standards. We tenuously hopped rocks at the edge of the lake, watching our footwork while marveling at the expanse of granite and glaciers before us. It honestly felt silly to try to capture photos and describe Patagonia, a place that can only be truly understood by experiencing it oneself. It’s an absolute wonder.

Patagonia. Wildly windy, intimidatingly beautiful—an unreal landscape filled with crazy animals like Guanacos, Huemuls, Pink Flamingos, and Ñandus (go look all these up, it’s mindblowing). Turquoise rivers snaking through dry meadows, mountains that look like they were drawn by Dr. Seuss, rivers falling down cliffs—it’s otherworldly. Because of its remoteness, it’s not the easiest place to get to or travel within. So to convince someone to buy the expensive flights and deal with all the logistical problems to go on a trip there with you, that’s when you know they’re good friends and they’re up for a wild adventure.

Patagonia – the most adventurous and wild place for some post-wedding bride and groom photos. This backpacking bridal session shot in one of Argentina’s most beautiful landscapes was inspiring and unforgettable to say the least.

When I think back on our time in Patagonia, I keep coming back to this one memory. When we drove into El Chaltén from El Calafate, Argentina we could see a series of rugged hills & mountains ahead, but we couldn't see the Fitz range as it was hidden behind clouds. That day we got glimpses here and there of Poincenot (the spire next to Fitz) peeking out from the clouds, and it was unbelievably huge. It was hard to believe there was a larger peak than that. The next day, the clouds cleared and we got our first view of the Fitz Roy. I've never seen a mountain that demands so much attention & respect. It literally took my breath away.

While in Patagonia we stayed in El Chalten with some of our close frineds, and on a clear day we went and had a fun adventure session at the base of Fitz Roy.

It is so difficult to wrap up a trip that contained so much—a week spent in a tiny port town, 8 days backpacking through one of the most beautiful places on earth, a few days in a small climbing town in Argentina, three days backpacking at the base of Fitz Roy and hanging out with some of the most creative & inspiring friends. We've barely been home a week, so I’m sure in the months to come I will draw more from this trip than I even realize right now.