They met as teens at the Grand Canyon. 7 years later they reunited and fell in love

(CNN) — When Carrie visited the Grand Canyon in the summer of 2001, she fell in love — twice.

First, she was instantly enamored with the vast vistas of copper-colored rocks and wide open blue skies that later bled into a burned orange sunset.

Carrie was 19 and passing through Arizona with her mother and stepfather, on their way back from touring Arizona State University.

The previous year Carrie had dropped out after a semester at a local college in Michigan. Her mother, concerned Carrie would decide not to enroll anywhere else, spent the trip trying to persuade her daughter of the perks of the college experience.

“She is selling this entire trip as this huge growth opportunity for me — ‘Look at all these people you can meet.’ She’s pointing out all the cute guys on the college tour,” recalls Carrie.

When the family arrived at the national park, Carrie’s mother continued her efforts. She zoned in on a young guy who was sitting, alone, on the edge of a rock at Hopi Point, on the South Rim of the canyon.

“She goes, ‘You know what? I want that picture. But I don’t want a stranger in my picture. I want somebody I know out there. So Carrie, go out there and sit with that guy so I can get a picture,'” recalls Carrie today.

Begrudgingly, Carrie agreed, and made her way to the edge of the rock to sit down next to the stranger.

This was Kris Sorensen, a 19-year-old from Denmark who’d recently graduated from an international boarding school in New Mexico.

Kris was also visiting the Grand Canyon with his parents, as part of a post-graduation US road trip before the family returned to Denmark.

Kris had spotted Carrie earlier that day, on one of the buses that ferry visitors around the national park.

“I’m trying, you know, to be very cool and try to catch her eye, as you do when you’re 19, 20 years old,” recalls Kris.

It hadn’t worked, but now the girl from the bus was walking towards him, and sitting herself next to him on the edge of the rock.

“Hi, my mom’s making me do this,” explained Carrie, awkwardly, as she sat down and peered out over Hopi Point.

It was a stunning view, but her attention soon switched to the person sitting next to her.

“We just started…