I've had a number of first dates become last ones due to guys not being able to keep up. Right now it's difficult for me to imagine having a significant other that won't willingly join me on long climbing routes.

I took a mostly hands-off approach to getting the GF climbing. I took her to watch a bouldering competition, hooked her up with a discount on lessons (including gear rental), and that's about it. Yesterday, after about her fifth indoor climb ever, she said on the phone. "I think I've got a problem. I really like climbing." I'm now contemplating whether the universe will survive if I give a woman money to buy a pair of shoes (rock shoes!).

I used some deception to get her hiking, telling her the trail was "about three miles" and not counting the extra mile on the summit spur nor counting the return trip. She enjoyed it (bonus, she was too tired to drag me shopping the next day like she'd planned), but she's now highly suspicious of any hiking trips I propose.

Keep in mind my all-time favorite license plate frame:
If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

WeakFemale wrote:Hey fossana, don't want to sound like a creeper or nothing, but both me and my husband have crushes on you.

Continue being awesome.

Her post says you have to willingly join her on a long climbing route first.

My wife was new to Arizona when we first met but a long-time hiker with tons of experience in Virginia, SoCal and some in the Seattle/Vancouver areas. I "drug" her up Vulture Mountain near Wickenburg after 5 weeks together. She managed the low-class 3 scramble bits very well, and had a great time. She "passed the test". A month later we went up Signal Peak in Yuma County, which has a lot more rocky, brushy and scramble sections, and afterwards she wasn't too pleased with me, but she made it. But even 7 years later, she still reminds me of that hike, and that I still owe her. I tell her that I saw "Love Actually" with Hugh Grant with her, and that should more than make up for what I put her through. And "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". She owes me again. I keep track.

Actually, she's a good sport, but the brushy rocky peaks don't interest her much.

---

I see no big issue with taking a prospective GF (or BF) on a hike. Just choose carefully. You want someone with a reasonable level of compatibility, of course.

I took a first date up a somewhat steep trail here around SLC a couple weeks ago. Now she won't return my phone calls.

Teresa Gergen wrote:

workmanflock wrote:Gender Neutral response on my part. I still use the Eureka you sold me for 30 bucks almost monthly. Have you killed the 12ers yet?

Very happy you like that tent. I did finish the 1,313 ranked peaks over 12,000 ft in CO on 7/10; I have a good start on the 10ers and 11ers (decided to just go ahead and make that a single project), but will turn my attention to WY and CA 13ers for most of the rest of the summer now.

Congrats, I'm in temporary exile out east so I need to live vicariously through people like you.

Did you finish the CA 14ers? I was thinking of aiming for them and some stuff in the Cascades.

Teresa Gergen wrote:

workmanflock wrote:Gender Neutral response on my part. I still use the Eureka you sold me for 30 bucks almost monthly. Have you killed the 12ers yet?

Very happy you like that tent. I did finish the 1,313 ranked peaks over 12,000 ft in CO on 7/10; I have a good start on the 10ers and 11ers (decided to just go ahead and make that a single project), but will turn my attention to WY and CA 13ers for most of the rest of the summer now.

Congrats, I'm in temporary exile out east so I need to live vicariously through people like you.

Did you finish the CA 14ers? I was thinking of aiming for them and some stuff in the Cascades.

My gf has expressed interest in backpacking for the first time (without me suggesting it) which I think is cool. Instead of talking it up and setting her up for a letdown, I've taken the opposite tact:

"honey, it's gonna be beautiful and scenic, but probably harder than anything you've done up to this point. Your back will hurt, your knees will hurt, the pack will be unimaginably heavy, it will be hot and dusty and steep, and we'll both be sweaty and smell like ass by the time we get to camp."

her: "ok, when are we going?"

I think I may have found a winnah!

I'm still paying. FU after FU. And the trails were moderate -- and as described.

But you wouldn't know that from hearing their side. Black widows, tarantulas, heat, dust, rain, pestilence, 20 year locusts, bears, even "snow", fire, and brimstone.

Let's face it: we guys never learn....

Fer crying out LOUD!

The service around this place is freakin' rotten, and totally STINKS !!!

I'm moving to another thread ...

But hiking with a S.O is easy compared to paddling whitewater in an open boat together...

EManBevHills wrote:But hiking with a S.O is easy compared to paddling whitewater in an open boat together...

+1000

never did understand this "dragging your significant other" anywhere. sounds like a bunch of machismo to me. my wife is also my best partner and we just go out and have fun.

why anyone would expect everyone to want or enjoy a hike up a mountain is beyond me,... but it is more perplexing why anyone would demean someone for not performing. you know, my best partner told me that having our twins was way more tough than anything we have done. including winter assaults in the cascades, or "6000 ft in 6 miles"... btw, hiking sucks...

does anyone just climb for themselves anymore???

x15x15 wrote:never did understand this "dragging your significant other" anywhere. sounds like a bunch of machismo to me. my wife is also my best partner and we just go out and have fun.

why anyone would expect everyone to want or enjoy a hike up a mountain is beyond me,... but it is more perplexing why anyone would demean someone for not performing. you know, my best partner told me that having our twins was way more tough than anything we have done. including winter assaults in the cascades, or "6000 ft in 6 miles"... btw, hiking sucks...

does anyone just climb for themselves anymore???

the happy few.