Sarah Numminen, Kelowna Nordic member, recounts a snowshoe she’ll never forget.
How long have you been a member at Nordic?
I’ve been visiting Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club since I was a child. My dad, sister, and I would snowshoe together: we go one speed! I got a membership this year, for the first time in forever.
The snowshoeing at Nordic is excellent! The trails toward the cabins further out is where things get really interesting; it’s common for us to hit them before they’ve been walked on.
During the rest of the year, my partner Cody and I love to travel, either together or on our own adventures. Because of that, snowshoeing is the perfect winter sport for us: it’s easy, cheap, and gets us outside.
Tell us about your magical day
In February 2024, Cody and I went up to Nordic to celebrate our five-year anniversary, and we thought a snowshoe would be a cute thing to do. I’m a food-oriented snowshoer and I usually pack a deluxe lunch, so on this particular day, we decided to bring fondue supplies! We’ve done this before, it’s really easy to warm up on the stoves in the cabins.
We took our time on Snowy Hilton to the further cabin, stopping to take photos and chat along the way. At some point, Cody said, “Let’s take a break, I need a breather.” I took the opportunity to look around and kept talking, but noticed he had gotten quiet. When I turned around, he had gotten down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I thought we were just going for a snowshoe to celebrate our anniversary, it was a total surprise! It was an immediate yes! Cody had secretly packed a bottle of bubbly for us to celebrate with, alongside our fondue lunch. And, surprisingly, we had the cabin to ourselves the entire time, so we enjoyed it for a while just the two of us while we celebrated and planned our lives together. By the time we snowshoed back to our car, we were the last ones in the parking lot!
Editor’s note: while we were hoping Sarah and Cody would say, “Let’s get married at Nordic!” alas, they will be escaping the cold in February 2026 for a Bali wedding. We wish them all the best as they continue to make memories at Nordic and beyond!
