In April 2022, at the Amicalola Falls ranger station in Georgia, two kindred spirits found themselves on the cusp of an incredible adventure.

Michael, known by the trail name Yeti, arrived at the ranger station in search of a permit for his 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Little did he know, his life was about to intersect with another hiker's in a way that would forever change their lives.

Vanessa, who would later go by the trail name Spetzel, was already at the station with her sister and brother-in-law. The ranger was busily instructing Spetzel on the intricacies of backcountry skills, and it took so long that as soon as the orientation was done she had to quickly hurry to the restroom.

During her absence, Yeti got to know Spetzel's family, engaging in a bit of friendly conversation. He had no idea that this chance encounter was the beginning of a beautiful connection.

When Spetzel returned from the restroom, her excitement to hit the trail was palpable. She headed for the door, and the ranger made a passing introduction, mentioning, "By the way, she hikes the Alps!" Yeti responded playfully, "Oh... Well, I guess I'll never see her again!"

Fate had other plans, for Spetzel twisted her ankle, forcing her to camp at the same shelter as Yeti that evening where he had the chance to speak to her for the first time.

Over the next few weeks, they bumped into each other sporadically on the trail, talking a little more each time. Then, one morning at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina, Spetzel and a hiking friend were enjoying a breakfast of potato chips by the river when Yeti and his hiking buddy strolled by. An impromptu invitation to join them turned into lunch as the group bonded over their shared journey.

Later that evening, they decided to dine out again, and a fifth hiker joined them. Halfway through the meal, the realization struck the others in the group like lightning – "Wait…You guys are on a date!!"

It was undeniable, and from that moment, their connection blossomed into something more profound. They decided to hike together, and through the ups and downs of the Appalachian Trail, they discovered an unbreakable bond. Eventually, the pair grew so close that fellow hikers started referring to them as "Speyeti", an amalgamation of Spetzel and Yeti, and a playful twist on their frequent spaghetti dinners on trail.

Their love story began on the backdrop of one of the world's most majestic trails, and after the pair finished the A.T., they embarked on a three-and-a-half month expedition through South America extensively exploring Columbia, Ecuador, and the Galapagos. They then returned to the United States where they hiked the entirety of the 3,000-mile Continental Divide Trail together from Mexico to Canada where Yeti proposed at the US-Canadian border... and she said yes!

After their wedding, the pair plan to convert a Ford Transit into a camper van and will continue to explore the beautiful outdoors while visiting National Parks across the United States.

M&V

Spetzel and Yeti Got Married!

Wedding Day