Any chance of a singles/ solo forum?

DuneElliot

DuneElliot

Section Hiker
I find it exceedingly tough to meet like-minded people who love to hike and backpack, and it will be more so when I move back to the UK as I am no longer familiar with things as they were 20 years ago. I am also single and would love to hike with others. I have seen singles/solo-meet-up groups in other online forums in the US and was wondering if we could get one going here.

Any thoughts? Pros? Cons? Ideas?
 
Padstowe

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
@DuneElliot Is it for a dating thing or just a hiking thing? I have no problem with either to be honest just wondering as it wasn't clear to me, not that either make a difference to me being in Ireland.
If its hiking then as suggested there is meet up thread or you could just post a thread to try & plan a trip with others. If its a dating thing, I'll be right back after I just comb me one hair. :)
 
gixer

gixer

Thru Hiker
Can't help but think it'd be 100 single blokes to every single woman on here, even tougher odds for the lesbian or gay members.

Can't see anything negative coming out of it though :thumbsup:
 
craige

craige

Thru Hiker
I don't think a "dating" sub on this forum would be a great idea, partly because this is a fairly compact group, and partly because it's filled with creepy guys :p as gixer said though, I can't see any harm.

I do think a meet-up or "wanna join me" section could be a good idea with a thread for anyone's quick bio of what people are looking for in a hiking buddy and their own capabilities and another for "wanted ads", a little less casual than the impromptu meet thread.
 
Enzo

Enzo

Thru Hiker
Not sure treklite would be the biggest sea in which to cast your net. But who knows there could be a pepper flake look a like on here for you.
Don't know if there are Facebook groups ?
I get the impression that the hiking thing has an older profile in the UK? Though there does seem to be a surge in the numbers of younger people getting into running, and very much cycling round my way. There seems to be a 5 or 10k event every weekend round here.
Seems pretty easy to organise meets on here so give it a go :thumbsup:
 
cathyjc

cathyjc

Thru Hiker
I'm with @craige on the dating aspect. I'm female and hike solo mostly.
I'd be pleased to share in hiking exploits but my husband might have something to say about other sorts of exploits :wideyed:.

As far as I know only myself and @Fair Weather Camper have been on Trek-lite meets - and she has a partner too - tho' I'm not going to speak for her inclinations re. meeting up …….. :bag:
 
Enzo

Enzo

Thru Hiker
So fair to say plenty of options for meeting people who love the outdoors, but as always no guarantee of 'the one'
I know lots of people when meet their S O at triathlon clubs etc. Things like that might be won looking into
 
gixer

gixer

Thru Hiker
I have a Mrs that I love very much, still when I bump into some of the female trail runners up on the mountain :wideyed: :wink: :whistling: :bag:

Strong, fit, slim and in skin tight clothing.

I'm wayyyyyyy to old for these fine ladies, but if I was single and 20 users younger I think I'd be looking more towards trail running forums to meet a partner.
 
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Shewie

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
I’m not too keen on a dating/finding love forum if I’m totally honest, I think there’s enough off topic content on here already

A single thread in the Places and Planning forum should suffice if the Impromtu thread doesn’t already cover it?
 
Fair Weather Camper

Fair Weather Camper

Thru Hiker
As above just give it a whirl on the already established threads.

Don't take the references to 'creepy guys' on here too seriously, though - all the guys I've met from here have been perfectly nice.

OK so there might be a bit of unreconstructed 'group blokeyness' in the atmos here occasionally - but that can fairly easily be sidestepped or ignored as you see fit..

But I don't think ts true to say that the hiking community in general is so much older in this country.. I know lots of younger people of all genders who are into it.. They're just not so much on here - yet.. You're helping to adjust that demographic just by being here :thumbsup:

Even for those of us who have regular hiking partners, sometimes they're unavailable, or don't fancy doing the same things, so there's no harm in asking.. :)
 
cathyjc

cathyjc

Thru Hiker
Yup, @Fair Weather Camper has a point about the youngsters - they are out on the hills not on here - good on them :thumbsup:.
My daughter (+ mates) is one of them - she's not that interested in 'counting grams' - she doesn't need to, she has youth on her side .
I'd like to see more younger folks on here otherwise the forum will get old and sad and lack vitality :meh:.
 
DuneElliot

DuneElliot

Section Hiker
I guess I was thinking along the lines of a combo of the two. There are enough dating sites out there and wouldn't want something here to be just that, but something where single hikers like me could POTENTIALLY get to talking to other single hikers and organize outings or hikes. Kind of like a singles social. While I enjoy the company of my married friends, sometimes you want to be hiking and socializing with others who aren't always griping or raving about their spouse, or kids, or y'know...and then maybe you meet someone who likes hiking as much as you do, and there's a spark etc etc.

Just maybe a sub-forum under the Places and Planning Section.
 
J

Jamess

Section Hiker
If its trekking buddies you are after, the impromptu and overnighter type threads already meet that need don't they?
 
Clare

Clare

Thru Hiker
Enzo said:
How do you start a singles meet up thread?

You just start a singles meet up thread :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Well, to be fair, @DuneElliot hasnt been on the forum that long and might not feel comfortable just setting off a thread in a new direction without getting some preliminary feedback.

I’d guess there are a lot of lurking readers on this forum, beyond the die hard regulars, and some may well respond to a singles walk proposal if Dune starts one. Worth a shot.

I had a look at the meetup website. The main problem is they totally innundate your inbox, second they were mostly really young and third Dune is a very experienced hiker while those groups tend to people who will walk 7 miles to the pub, not women with a duplex and a pack of fine dogs. She is much more likely to find like minded hikers lurking on a site like this, Id say.

Go for it. Set up a walk when you’re in the uk.
 
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