How are we hikers, skiers, campers and bikers better partners? Let us count the ways ... Why, hello there, fellow human looking to date other humans! Is that our photo you’re hovering over on that dating app? Sweet. What drew you in—the snow-capped peaks rising in the background? The ice axe casually strapped to our backpack? The barely visible pit stains decorating our favorite wool shirt? Whatever it was, we’re glad that you stopped by—not to brag, but we outdoorsfolks kinda have it going on. Listen, we don’t have anything against indoorsy folks. Heck, we’ve even dated a few of them ourselves. Candlelit dinners—or even Netflix and chill—may have their places. But there’s a really solid case to be made for partnering up with us outdoorsy types—that is, besides the fact that we’ll always have plenty of gear to share with you. We like to crank up our heart rate. Sitting on the couch and watching a movie is nice and all, but have you ever tried experiencing the rush of pure, unfiltered adrenaline? We have—and it’s great. Even the birders among us feel at least a slight flutter in their chest when one of their bucket list obsessions soars into sight. Is your pulse rate through the roof because you just surfed the biggest wave of your life, or are you just happy to see me? We hang on tight when the going gets tough. Taking a whipper from high off the deck during a climb, flipping your kayak while navigating a Class V rapid, eating dirt after a spectacular wipeout on your handcycle—no one ever said that going big was easy, in adventure or in love. But it’s absolutely worth it. And that’s why we always stay the course, even if we have a little road rash to show for it afterward. We’re very comfortable with our bodies…or at least their functions. Many of us learned to shed at least a few inhibitions the first time we hovered over a cat hole, changed out of our clothes at the trailhead, made a deposit in a big wall poop tube, or skinny-dipped in an alpine lake. As an added bonus, we’re also not put off by bodily functions that might otherwise stand in the way of romance, like, say, catching a whiff of B.O. or getting hot-boxed inside a sleeping bag. A two-person tent is the new honeymoon suite, right?! We know how to unplug and focus on the moment. Unless we’re snapping photos of the gorgeous scenery (which includes you, of course), we like to stash our phones and live in the present. It’s not just because there’s usually no cell service where we’re at; it’s also that we’re just so completely blissed out that we don’t want any distractions while enjoying our happy place. So, if you’ve ever wished for a lover that would shower you with undivided attention—boy, do I have the belay partner for you! We’re in touch with our primal instincts. At the most basic level, we are all animals—and we think that’s kinda awesome. We can seek sun or find shade, conjure up (and, um, extinguish) fire, build shelter, forage for food, and gather water. And hey…we don’t mind getting a little (or a lot) dirty, either. Rarr. We’re skilled in the art of tender loving care. It’s pretty common for us to drop big money on our outdoor pursuits; that gear closet isn’t going to fill itself, you know. But the value of what’s inside goes far beyond any dollar amount—this is the stuff that brings us joy and enhances our lives, and we’re going to do our best to take care of such precious cargo. If you’ve ever watched someone wax their monoski, flake their rope, or caress the seat of their carbon road bike, you know exactly what we’re talking about. We are not afraid of commitment. Plain and simple—when the promise of good stuff hangs on the horizon, we are never, ever going to flake. Want to sneak in a little dawn patrol before work? Or spend five months thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail? Maybe skip the snooze button in favor of an alpine start to climb a nearby peak? Dying to spend several weekends in a row working a project at your favorite crag? Dreaming of standing around in a pair of waders for roughly 900 years, waiting for a bite? You can count on us. When we’re in, we’re in. We love trying new things. We all have our favorite positions—goofy-footed on our splitboard at the lip of some epic powder, standing directly under the spray from a 30-foot waterfall, sprawled out on our SUP after a long paddle—but we’re also down to change things up from time to time. After all, adventure’s the name of the game, baby! We know how to work together really, really well. Sure, a lot of us enjoy solo pursuits, but often the most memorable—and enjoyable—experiences are the ones we share. Not only that, but we always look out for our partners. From double-checking knots before a climb, to sharing the load during a long portage, to staking down an unwieldy tent at a windy campsite, we’re not going to leave you hanging. In the end, it’s teamwork that makes the dream work. So, remember—next time you find yourself scrolling to a photo of someone buckled into a climbing harness, cruising around in a kayak, or sweating like they just spent ten days straight lounging in a sauna, just know that it’s absolutely worth your time to swipe right.
