Finding Love in the Outdoors: A Tale of Three LGBTQ+ Couples

Most outdoorsy people can confirm that having a partner in crime makes every adventure more fun. And for some of the lucky ones, those same folks are actually their partners in life. 

Partaking in outdoor adventures can be exhilarating, fun, and life-changing – but they can also be stressful, risky, and miserable. Getting outside with a significant other is a great way to test the boundaries (of all sorts) and explore a different type of chemistry. Doing intense activities is not for every couple, but when two people enjoy testing the limits together, it’s worthy of celebration.

This February we’re celebrating LGBTQ+ couples that are happiest in the great outdoors. We want to highlight some of the most badass and strongest people out there that deserve just as much (if not more) of your attention. Grab your heart-shaped box of chocolates and let’s dive in to get to know these amazing couples.

Justine (she/her) and Sam (they/them)

Follow both Justine and Sam @wanderfulwives.

How’d you two meet?

It’s a real modern Tinderella story! Actually, Justine first ghosted me on Tinder, then I (Sam) messaged her again on Bumble and she finally agreed to a first date. We met in Denver at a climbing gym and then each ate four full-sized cupcakes at a cider & cupcake pairing. After that, we were hooked on each other.

Which activities do you like to do together? Are there any activities you do solo?

We love backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, adventure traveling, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing/snowboarding together! I (Sam) still very much love climbing, but Justine is more into weight-lifting these days.

What’s your number one piece of advice for couples who adventure outdoors together?

Be prepared – we’ve had several serious incidents while adventuring up in Alaska together and our trust, synchronicity, knowledge, and first aid kit quite possibly saved our lives. Oh, and also – enjoy your deep and silly and dreamy and vulnerable conversations out there, but don’t forget to sit and soak up the silence together too.

Is there anything your partner has helped you learn or a goal you wanted to achieve?

Oh gosh, since being together we’ve both just totally bloomed in our outdoorsy-ness, pushing each other to tackle adventures we’d never attempt alone. Having someone who shares your love of nature and also values spending time outside being active has been the greatest gift.

Emmeline (she/her) and Joanne (she/her)

Follow Emmeline @emmelinewang and Joanne @oreolard.

How’d you two meet? 

We met at a climbing crag clean-up with the Bay Area Climbers’ Coalition in Berkeley, California! We both wanted to clean graffiti off the rock climbing areas and ended up jiving as both of us were looking for outdoor climbing partners. We were friends for a little over two months, and our relationship evolved into something more. Fast forward to almost four years later, we’re now engaged and planning to get married this coming fall!

Which activities do you like to do together? Are there any activities you do solo? 

A big part of our relationship revolves around our shared love for the outdoors. From rock climbing to backpacking and trail running in the mountains, Joanne and I (Emmeline) find so much peace in the outdoors, and that’s where we are able to connect on a deep level since there are no distractions and usually no cell service. Joanne also enjoys spending some time solo hiking and trail running during the summer on the Wasatch Front in Salt Lake City, Utah.

What’s your number one piece of advice for couples who adventure outdoors together? 

Prepare for all the fun together with your one and only! Don’t forget to communicate and listen to each other’s needs and be sure to take some time apart to allow one another to grow as individuals. Just as much as we love the outdoors and push each other to be our best selves, we also respect that sometimes, we want alone time to find a resolution and reconnect with ourselves. Ultimately, we both think that everything comes down to communication and having each other’s backs through thick and thin. 

Is there anything your partner has helped you learn or a goal you wanted to achieve? 

Joanne: 

Emmeline has helped me hone in on feeling what moves me in the moment and going for it. If that means bouldering over sport climbing, running around in the mountains over climbing, or working on a recipe in the kitchen over being outside, the answer is always to pursue passion, rather than going with what others are doing or setting rigid goals that feel like a chore. She has always supported me to grow in the way that makes me feel alive every day. 

Emmeline: 

Joanne has been a huge support system and my hype woman no matter how big my dreams are. From being my belay partner on my projects to listening to my crazy ideas, Joanne’s been there for me through it all. I attribute much of my successes and achievements to her being by my side.

Bridget (she/her) and Sarah (she/her) 

Follow Bridget @hiking.dyke and Sarah @scfunk94.

How’d you two meet?

We met playing rugby in Albany, New York. 

Which activities do you like to do together? Are there any activities you do solo?

We mainly go hiking and backpacking together, but any time we try something new it’s usually at the same time. We’re both learning skiing together, and are getting into mountaineering and climbing. We do like to spend time doing activities solo – I’m (Bridget) more into mountain biking and Sarah runs Ultramarathons.

What’s your number one piece of advice for couples who adventure outdoors together?

Communication is everything! We’ve learned so much about each other by adventuring together, but the biggest lesson is to communicate before, during, and even after an adventure. Have a plan, communicate your expectations of the day/trip to your partner, let them know how you’re feeling during the adventure, and let them know if you had a lot of fun afterwards. 

Is there anything your partner has helped you learn or a goal you wanted to achieve?

Yes! Sarah is a great runner, and has helped me get out on more trail runs. We worked up to an epic day running 20 miles near Mount Saint Helens last summer. It seemed like an insurmountable task but she helped me through it and I’m so proud of having accomplished it. 

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Needless to say, these three couples really found their matches! Do you and your partner get outside together? Tell us how in the comments!