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The outdoors have a way of delivering to us our soulmates. Sometimes, that’s a romantic partner, discovered on a mountain-summit meet-cute. Other times, it’s the fiercely loyal friends we never knew we needed. Maybe you’ve noticed the same—that your best friends are your adventure friends. There’s a reason for that dynamic. The outdoors draws out the best and the worst in us. It challenges us, heals us, and forces us to be vulnerable in a way few other settings can. It’s that place of raw honesty where true connection thrives.

Of course, even the best outdoor relationships don’t happen without a little work, a little grace, and a whole lot of gratitude. But the impact is nearly always for the better. Without the outdoors, many of us would be down a partner, a friend, a crew, a purpose. Over the years, �����ԹϺ���’s writers and editors have fallen in love, gotten married, overcome grief, reconnected with parents, and met lifelong friends, all outdoors. Here, our staffers reflect on the most powerful relationships and lasting connections made outside.

Well-Aged Perspective 

“Making friends as an adult can be challenging. Every lasting friendship I forged in my twenties started at the base of a climbing route. Some of those friends were at my wedding; some have traveled around the country and world with me; some aren’t around anymore. The ones who are, I value more every year.” —Backpacker editor in chief

Fierce Female Friendships 

“I never had a strong group of lady friends. Then, a few years ago, I fell in with a group of women who scrambled Boulder’s Flatirons before work most mornings. Those scrambles have become my lifeline—a way for us women to catch up, belly-laugh, and support one another through big life transitions. I’d be a different woman without them.” —�����ԹϺ��� interim editor Corey Buhay

Finding Your Person

“I realized my partner was the one for me on a hike up Half Dome last year. In moments where we were both in physical and emotional distress, there was still care. That’s when I realized that as tough as that hike was, I wouldn’t have wanted to be there with anyone else.” —Backpacker associate editor

Turning Parents into Friends

“My parents, in an incredible show of patience, taught me to ski, bike, and navigate the backcountry as a kid. Now, as an adult, I get to open the occasional door for them—planning a backpacking trip with my mom or showing my dad my favorite kick-turn tricks on a ski tour. These days, there’s nobody I would rather tap for an adventure.” —�����ԹϺ��� senior editor Abigail Barronian

Uplifting Energy 

“Skiing with the incredible group of women in my life has made me not only a better outdoorswoman, but a more resilient, grounded, and confident person. That shared time outdoors reminds me of the power we gain—even beyond the mountains and back at work—by lifting each other up and cheering each other on. Because there’s always more than enough room for us all at the top.” ������� editor in chief

Forging Family Traditions

“My husband proposed to me on a backpacking trip to a remote lake in northern New Mexico, and a couple years later we hauled our baby up there. Now, I’m pregnant again and we’re already planning a visit to the lake with our newest family member in tow. I love that the outdoors has helped our growing family build a tradition that’s totally unique to us.” —�����ԹϺ��� digital director Abigail Wise

Community Connection

“I used to consider rock climbing a personal calling of the almost religious variety. Lately, however, what I value has changed: The hours I spend at the cliffs or boulders have become a way to share time and purpose with my community—and my understanding of ‘success’ has become less about individual wins and more about connection.” — Climbing digital editor Steve Potter

Rites of Passage

“I have three sons, and as they were growing up, the outdoors was where we marked important milestones. One planned and led a backpacking trip as a . As newly minted teens, they did fundraising mountain climbing trips for , a nonprofit that provides wilderness experiences for disinvested youth. And as they transitioned to young adults, they joined me in Nepal on a combined , where they learned the transformative power of adventure travel at its best.” —�����ԹϺ��� content director Dennis Lewon

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The Bonds We Build Outdoors