Hiking as a Couple … Without Fighting

A couple weeks ago, I decided it would be really fun to go hiking. It seemed like the “American” thing to do, so I convinced my husband to come with. He was not excited about it. But we decided to go.

Lots of people go hiking. People love to hike. I told myself I was one of them. Hiking is a good chance to get away from the normal hustle and bustle of life. It’s nice to be moving and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.

Here’s the first problem. I hate hiking. I told myself I loved it. I don’t. Hiking is hard work. It’s hot outside. You’re going to get hot. You’re going to get sweaty. You’re going to get sunburned in really strange places (like the back of your calf). You’re going to get dirty. Accept it and move on.

My husband and I decided to hike a trail I’ve done several times (but not for a few years). I told him it was a 5-6 mile hike and just the first mile or so was steep. After that, it gets much easier. Boy was I wrong.

I didn’t realize this hike was 6 miles … each way. And while I remembered it being mostly flat, I was wrong. It was probably the hardest hike in my life. I’m in pretty good shape, so I figured it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Wrong. And, while I’m being honest, I love my husband, but hiking with him is not fun. He’s the kind of person who wants to get to the top and get done. He walks fast. Really fast. There were times I would jog to catch up to him. It was not nice.

Finally I quit trying to keep up with him and let him just stop and wait for me. So, here’s how our hike went. He walked up the hill and stopped to wait for me. I walked up the hill at my pace. When I got to the top, he started walking again … which means I never got a rest.

Okay, that’s not completely true. When I told him to stop and let me rest, he did. But he was just focused on getting to the top so we could get back down. (And, to be fair, the hike just doubled in length to him.)

When I got home from our hike, I decided if we were ever going to hike again without fighting, I needed to come up with a plan. So, my pain can now be used to your advantage. Here are a few tips to help you have a fun(?) hike with your special someone.

• Talk it out before you go. Decide together if this is a fun, recreational hike, or a race to the top. He’ll be happy that you aren’t complaining he walks too fast, and you’ll be happy he isn’t leaving you in the dust.
• Take treats. My husband can eat a lot, so make sure to take plenty of snacks. You’re working hard hiking up steep mountains, you can eat a treat or two. If you’re going on a long hike, try packing a sack lunch. (I’d have packed sandwiches if I realized it was 6 miles each way. Which brings me to my next tip … )
• Research your trail. Make sure you know how long the hike is. You’ll both be happier.
• Don’t forget the water.
• Take 2 backpacks. We only have one backpack, so everything we took went into it. And my husband carried it the whole time. Poor guy. I offered to help, but he couldn’t let me carry it … that’s like an insult to his manliness. If you’ve got two bags you can both carry the load … so your husband’s shoulders won’t be so sore.
• If you want to spice it up a bit, pack a yummy treat that your sweetie wouldn’t expect. Sneak some chocolate truffles (if it’s not too hot outside), fancy cheese, hummus … something fun that they wouldn’t expect you to carry on a hike.
• Take advantage of the trail to talk. Enjoy the moment. Don’t fear the silence, but don’t spend your whole time complaining about how horrible the hike is (guilty).

There you have it, those are my tips to a successful hike with your sweetie. Did I miss any? Share your tips with me in the comments. I want to know what other things I can do to have a fun hike.

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