The Tooth

ABOUT PROPOSAL PINNACLE: See the conical Seussian monolith immediately to the left / south of The Tooth? That is, to us anyway, Proposal Pinnacle, the otherwise unnamed feature where my husband proposed to me 25 years ago (in 1995)! He meant to propose on the summit of The Tooth, but was quite overwrought that day (gee, wonder why?) and unknowingly led us off-trail. When we began to climb, we actually thought we were at the foot of The Tooth until we were part way up Proposal Pinnacle and could clearly see the entire south route of the tooth from our erroneous stance. The "route" up Proposal Pinnacle is rasty, but with enough protectable features that we made it to the crow's-nest-like summit, which was just big enough for the four of us to crowdedly crouch (our Best Man and his wife came along to witness the event!) - Casey on one knee. At which time he began frantically rummaging through his pack and ultimately facepalmed, realizing he had forgotten that The Engagement Ring was in the surplus pack, left behind at the base of the pinnacle. Not to be deterred, he grabbed a piece of pro from his rack and used that to seal the deal, in the stead of a Montana Blue Sapphire (the Pro is more precious to me now, and resides in a shadowbox place of honor, with a photo of Proposal Pinnacle!). He proceeded to ask "Lorie Teel, will you do me the honor of being my wife?" To which I replied at the top of my lungs, "YES! I WILL MARRY YOU!" To which the several climbing parties on The Tooth hooted and cheered and clapped! It was a proposal of perfection. And ever since, every time we drive westward over Snoqualmie Pass, we strain to catch the weather-permitting peekaboo glimpse of Proposal Pinnacle (don't blink or you'll miss it) and remember that sunny magical off-trail day with gratitude and deep, great, enduring love.