The world is awash in adages about the advantages of strategy—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, fail to plan and you plan to fail, better safe than sorry, ad nauseam. There’s plenty to be said for the joys of spontaneity as well, but when you’re calling the whims of Mother Nature and group dynamics into play, spending a few minutes mapping out the broad strokes of your shared outdoor adventure can spell the difference between a blissed-out expedition and grounds for dismissal.
We tracked two couples into shred territory in Tennessee to learn how a couple of crazy kids in love can preserve their relationship while making new memories and inspiring each other to push beyond their limits. Duane Duke and Michelle Smith venture out with professional climbers Lisa Rands and Wills Young for a double date for the ages, from rafting the rapids to crawling into a cave. Here are five things to spend a little time on before you and the object of your affection—the human one—leave on your next adventure.
1. Chemistry is key. Intrepid couples hell-bent on bonding in the backcountry are no different than a platonic group of shreds heading out for a day or three: In the end, communication and connection and paramount. Choose your recreation partners with care, opting to invite only those who are up for the challenge, ready to get out of their comfort zone, and willing to talk as a group before any big decisions are made. (And yes, sometimes when you’ll stop for lunch is a big decision.) Taking off with those whose goals, ability levels, and overall vibe are akin to yours will make for a much better experience than finding yourself in a tense, hangry argument halfway up a trail when a storm is rolling in.
2. Getting there is half the fun. OK, maybe not half, but the idea here is to think holistically about your next adventure, not just about summiting a peak or making a section. The sweat-breaking part of your day is just that—a part. When mapping out your itinerary, factor in the usual stuff—travel time, approach and return, active minutes, food—but also leave some breathing room to enjoy your surroundings and each other’s company. Nap in that meadow, sun yourselves on that riverbank rock, pose for a group selfie on the bikes. Savor the experience of doing something you love (or something you didn’t know you loved until today) with people you are about and you’ll never look at that trail the same way again.
3. Clown cars are for the circus. When it’s just you and your partner in crime, packing everything haphazardly into the too-small trunk of your 10-year-old economy car (or strapping it to the roof with clothesline and hope) isn’t a deal-breaker. But if you want to keep the peace on even a half-day excursion with two couples in the mix, take the nicest rig between you. A Ford Expedition with leg room, plenty of space for your dirty, wet gear, four-wheel drive, and a killer sound system is a definite upgrade over folding down the seats in a beater hatchback just to get Couple B in the backseat—and then asking them to nestle their heads between paddles, skis, or knobbies while you realize your rearview mirror is now useless.
4. If you think you might need, it, you probably will. Spend some time the night before you leave putting together your gear checklist, even for the briefest of days, and making sure every item ends up in the pack. Check the weather, then pretend the meteorologist is dead wrong and pack that extra layer and rain shell anyway. Stuff breaks and nature does have a way of changing her mood quickly; there’s not much worse than being ill prepared for inclement weather or a gear malfunction that adds post-sunset hours to your trip.
5. Choose your own adventure. Plan where you’ll be for sunsets, sunrises, snack attacks, and snoozes as part of your overall trip. At first it might seem like some overboard cruise-director kind of attitude, but if you’ve ever missed a bomber late-afternoon sky because you got a late start, you know what we mean. Take scenic routes and stay off main highways whenever you can, while you’re at it; the drive there and back doesn’t have to fall strictly into the utilitarian category.
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