Is Hiking A Good First Date?
First dates can be a minefield. These meetings are inherently loaded to the brim with unrealistic expectations. On a first date, you may find yourself wishing that the date would last a lifetime, or if you are stuck with the wrong person, every moment could feel like a lifetime. Going hiking on a first date may seem like a great idea, but it may be wiser first to get to know the person a little better before going hiking alone.
Being alone in a secluded location with someone that you don’t know very well may not only be awkward, it could also be dangerous. Unless you and your date are already members of a hiking club and have been out in groups before, hiking is not a good first date.
A short hike in nature with a picnic while enjoying the view may seem like the perfect romantic idea for a date. And it is a super activity for a date – just not the first date. Even if your date doesn't turn out to be Jeffrey Dahmer, there are so many things that could go wrong. Being stuck in the woods with someone you are not yet comfortable with is the stuff of first-date nightmares!
Is Hiking A Good First Date?
Inviting someone out on a hike may seem like a great idea if you are both athletic and nature lovers. After all, then you will get some time alone and enjoy nature. What could go wrong, right? Well, actually, too many things to mention could go wrong, and that is why going hiking as a first date is a terrible idea.
First dates can either go really well, and you can't wait to see the person again, or they can go really badly. If after 5 minutes of a first date you realize that the guy in the office who seemed so charming is actually someone who wants to borrow money or needs a place to crash for a few weeks, you will want to excuse yourself asap. If you are out on a hiking trail, you will need to set a new trail record to get back to home base or endure the awkward situation without backup for several hours.
Let’s break the activity of hiking down so that the pitfalls of it being a good first date become clear. Here is a table showing what could go right and what could go wrong on each activity.
| Hiking On A First Date Activity | Why Is It A Good Idea? | Why Is It A Bad Idea? |
|---|---|---|
| Looking your best | • You won’t have to wear a lot of makeup or a fancy first-date outfit. • You get to wear comfortable shoes. |
• You could get horribly sunburned. • Something could blow into your eyes, and your mascara will run, so you look like a raccoon throughout the experience. • It could rain unexpectedly, and you get soaked to the bone with a semi-stranger, miles away from your vehicle. |
| Actual hiking | • Romantic setting • Tranquil sounds of nature • Can get to know your date and have deep conversations • Beautiful natural setting |
• Nature contains bees, bugs, snakes, ticks, etc. If your date is not completely comfortable with this, it may be a very long 3-hour hike. • Possible excessive sweating if your date is a fast walker • You may not want to have any deep conversation with someone determined to sell you on a 'once in a lifetime' pyramid scheme opportunity. • There is no background music or distracting noise to help you think of things to talk about if your date is a person of few words. |
| Communicating with the outside world | • Lovely to spend time alone to bond • Getting to know each other better without interruptions |
• There may be no cellphone signal, so you can't phone for help • You won’t be able to tell your friends or family exactly where you are before the time. • There may not be many other hikers around, so you might feel uneasy or unsafe with someone you don't know well. |
| Expect the unexpected | • You may both decide to become avid hikers and start planning your travels around the globe together. • Your first-date romantic hike may be the thing you talk about at your wedding someday. |
• What if you need to use the bathroom midway through the hike? On a first date, you may not want to relieve yourself behind a tree. • Poison ivy, pollen allergies, twisted ankles, food allergies – on a first date, you don't know the other person well enough yet to know what they may be allergic to or any medical history. Being stuck 5 miles away from help with a stranger who has swelled up like a blowfish from eating a prawn cracker is not an ideal first-date scenario. |
From this table, you should be able to decide whether or not going hiking would be a good idea on a first date.
Under no circumstances must you ever consider arranging a hike with someone that you have never met. If you feel a connection to someone you have met online and you are both nature lovers, arrange to go on a horseback trail or meet at a Farmer's Market, but ensure that it is a place where there will be other people around.
When Is Hiking As A First Date A Good Idea?
If you and your date are already members of a hiking club or birdwatchers, and you already know each other from regular meetings in this type of natural setting, then setting up a short hike for the two of you as a first date would be a great idea.
You would then know that the other person already has the correct gear and stamina to cope. You would have also witnessed the person out on a trail before and be aware of any peculiar habits or crazy tendencies before asking them out on a hiking date.
If you live in an agricultural community or small town where everyone knows everyone else, hiking may be a fun first date. If you and your date have just never plucked up the courage to go out together, then something like a short hike and a picnic in an area you are both very familiar with would be a winner.
Small towns often don't have a lot of entertainment locations where couples can get to know each other, so a short hike or another nature-inspired activity in this scenario would be awesome.
Even in the above scenarios, keep the planned hiking part of the activity short and manageable. Two to three hours out on the trail would be a maximum, and then if things are going well, you should have a restaurant or coffee shop suggestion in mind so that you can continue the date.
Conclusion
Hiking can be an excellent activity for a dating couple. The tranquil, natural setting can set the tone for a long and healthy relationship. However, going hiking on a first date should be undertaken with extreme caution.
First dates are often anxiety-filled, awkward interactions. Sometimes first dates go spectacularly badly and need to be cut short. If you are 2 miles out on a trail with someone you don't want to be with, the hike back may feel like you are summiting Mt Everest.
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