Rock Gym for First Date??

Like the title says, I'm thinking of taking a date to the gym for some fun. She's into outdoors and I've asked in round about ways if she's up for it. Every time I've mentioned it, she's interested.

What I'd actually like to know, especially from a woman perspective is:

Is if its too much trust to put into a person your just meeting?

Is this going to blow up in my face if she doesn't like it?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Took my senior prom date climbing. She loved it but couldn't hold anything the rest of the day

Not a woman, but this is mountain project so you get what you get.

In the past I've climbed with a lot of people within an hour or two of meeting them and the gym is just about the only place i would still do that without hesitation; if they can pass a belay test that's good enough for me.

I don't think it will blow up in your face, but then again I don't foresee anything blowing up in her's either.

Well, keep in mind your audience here - any women's perspective you get from this forum is extremely likely to be women who are already pretty serious about climbing. So, if you're asking if the average non-climber will think a climbing gym is a fun first date, I'm not sure you're going to get a good feel for that from this group.

Really I think your best bet is not to look for "women's" perspective, but to just get her perspective. Why not just say "Hey, I'd like to go to this climbing gym with you, what do you think?"

Your seriously misguided if you are asking for dating advice here.

I can see that going well. Couple of things I would caution:
1. Don't go climbing stuff way outside of her skill level to make yourself look good. She won't like that if it's making her look bad.
2. Don't expect her to climb super-hardcore. If she's into you, then she will be torn between impressing you with her climbing skills, and still looking good (as in hair, makeup, or what have you).

But like I said, it could definitely work. My fiancè (girlfriend at the time) both went climbing (outside) for the first time together, and since then have gotten our own gear and have had plenty of dates at the climbing gym together (I climb with other friends who have a rope when I'm away for the week at school). Just be aware that if you're an advanced climber, that will make future climbing dates difficult if you're way above her level.

Good luck man!!

A really long time ago (20 years? I'm getting old), I took a girl on a date to a climbing gym. It went well, we had fun.

But I knew she wanted to go because she told me so. She knew I climbed and said she wanted to try it, so I took her to Paradise Rock Gym in Denver. Miss that place...

That was our 1st or 2nd date. It ended at date 3, though. *Womp womp.*

Bill M wrote:Your seriously misguided if you are asking for dating advice here.

Best advice in the thread! :-)

Bill M wrote:Your seriously misguided if you are asking for dating advice here.

^this...but if you want any advice, take her and have fun, be patient, if she doesn't seem stoked after an hour take off and go do something else.

Take her on a simple multipitch. Like a 2-3 pitch 5.6. If it over looks a canyon or valley, something that looks awesome at sunset. Bring a picnic setup for maximum chances.

I vote no to a climbing gym. I vote yes to real climbing.

took a girl to a rock gym on our first date. weve been married 2 years now. IMO its a good place for a date as long as its not ridiculously busy. Just have a good backup plan to bail and go somewhere else if shes not enjoying it.

I took an ex of mine to a climbing gym for a first date - but she climbed already before so perhaps not a great comparible - it went fine, we had our first kiss underneath one of the climbing routes. I also took her up a 8 pitch adventure(ish) climb about 3 weeks later.

If she can't belay I'd suggest going bouldering rather than rope climbing because at least then you're not dependent on her to learn belaying.

Depends on the girl honestly. Some chicks will love it, others will be put in a vulnerable place. My GF doesn't climb, doesn't like it, and when we do go it usually doesn't end well (for me).

On the other hand she could eat it up, and then be stoked on you...until she meets a guy with no shirt and beanie one. haha

All depends on the girl. Like farmer john said it's not very "neutral"

If you have to ask....

That's what I did. Now we're married and she's getting strong as hell.

Farmer John wrote:Pay for everything of course.

try this advice for sure and it shouldnt go wrong.

if she doesnt like it at all you know its time to move on.

Thinking about it this is my flawless advice guaranteed to get you a gf: (assuming you don't look like the ass of an ass or have a terrible personality)

first date: coffee or juice or drink somewhere you can talk. (no movie cause you can't talk, save the movie for the third date so you can yawn -> hand over shoulder trick or hand on the thigh trick) This date is crucial and should last for no less than 2 - 4 hours. Having somewhere to walk after drinks is useful. If you can't talk for 2 - 4+ hours on your first date, then forget it.

second date: climbing & lunch or dinner afterwards. Since obviously you've talked about it you will have a clear idea of how receptive she'll be to the idea. Again this will give you ample opportunity to talk.

third date: If she likes movies, go for the after dinner movie. Otherwise cook her dinner. Again focus on conversation, you're looking for somebody you can consider a friend as well as a lover.

forth date+: If you can't figure it out from here; you've got no chance and nobody on Mountain project can help.

Gavin W wrote:Don't go climbing stuff way outside of her skill level ,,,

+1

,,, and consistently be keen to notice and leave when she wants to leave.

Bill M wrote:Your seriously misguided if you are asking for dating advice here.

Come on, there are a reasonable number of happily coupled folks here!

I think it's a great idea. There's enough to focus on besides each other that it could be really low stress. She won't feel like she has to pull out all the stops in dressing up.

Just keep it light. I think 4 hours of conversation with nothing else to focus on outside of coffee or juice (as advised above) is way too intense. Ease into things. Leave her curious about you and wanting to know more.

David knows what's up. For our first date, we had coffee and talked for a couple of hours. Then we climbed for a bit. Climbing's a fun date man, you get to get up close to tie her in. It can be an intimate experience. But you have to judge that shit before you get there and it helps if she's never climbed.

Alicia Sokolowski wrote:I think 4 hours of conversation with nothing else to focus on outside of coffee or juice (as advised above) is way too intense.

Worked for me ;-)

To be fair we walked around some London parks for a while. It was organic not planned and neither of us wanted it to end. The second date was 8 hours long. Now we're expecting our first. BUUUTTT that doesn't work for everybody. I'm just a big fan of ensuring that you can have a good conversation with a perspective partner before spending too much time.