Relationships

Before she became famous for her lawsuits against former President Trump, the writer took a road trip for an Outside story that had her asking total strangers if they had sex outdoors.

Our child is struggling with complicated mental health challenges, and we can’t get outside in the way we used to 

How Pam Houston, the author of a timeless book about dating wild and adventurous men, helped me navigate romantic frustrations in a mountain town

She didn’t mention it when we came back, and I’m not sure she noticed—do I have to bring it up? 

He just got into team sports for the first time, which is great, but he only seems to enjoy it when he wins.

I cherish this annual tradition and spend months looking forward to it, but I already know this one won’t be fun for me

Go ahead, pick one: to check in on, root for, and admire

He often comes by unannounced while we’re working from home

Hitting the trail with someone may be the best way to get to know them. But what if “someone” is your new hubby?

She’s become more restrictive with her own diet recently—now it feels like she wants to control mine, too

I was having a health emergency and asked him to leave with me, but he insisted on staying put

My wife and I have been supporting his training, but I don’t want him to learn the wrong lessons

Isn’t it my responsibility to give him a reality check? 

We may have botched the relationship reveal, but I care deeply about my friend and don’t want to lose him

We first connected over a love of riding bikes—is it possible for us to find a compromise here?

It’s not all negative

Am I being overprotective, or dismissive of something my wife finds meaningful?

Plus, what to do if your off-leash dog is making someone anxious

We have lots of fun when things go smoothly, but he gets in terrible moods if they don’t

After the bestselling novelist’s marriage fell apart, she decided to take a long walk in the wild. It set her up for a life of adventure.

After the death of their husband and father, the world felt irreversibly transformed. Skiing would offer a lifeline.

I think he’s overreacting, and it feels embarrassing 

Dad and I had always planned to climb Africa’s tallest peak together, but cancer took away our chance. I knew he wouldn’t want it to take mine, too.

Whether they’re for yourself or for someone else, here are some tips for taking NSFW photos in nature

Some experiences are unforgettable for both very bad and very good reasons

Outdoor time with your partner is more than just fun—it can be the key to a superstrong bond

My husband and I have hosted four different foster children over the past four years. We've found that we all benefit from time outdoors.

He’s a big fan of survival shows, and I have a hunch he’s trying to recreate one on our trips

When the outdoor writer organized a long-distance bike trip for her struggling brother, she learned the value of sharing things that bring us joy

“Since he’s never said anything explicitly romantic, wouldn’t it be presumptuous to tell him I’m not interested?”

I used to be the life of the party, but now I’m having trouble meeting people

Our difference in perspective is causing tension as we plan the next big adventure

All that hiking, biking, and climbing can take a toll on more than your quads

When Leo Babler was born with a rare and deadly genetic disorder, his parents reshaped their lives, moving to the mountains, building out an adventure van, and making sure their son experienced the most beautiful wild places in the country during the time they had

I want to add a storage unit, but he says it will sully the view

Tips on getting to the other side

From the whimsical to the epic, these are our favorite stories of the year

I know he means well, but I hate to see him waste money on something I'm not that into

My friend is building a yurt and asked me to live with him, but I’ve always thought there might be something more between us

Traveling with a mix of people can lead to tension. Here’s how to defuse a tough situation.

Farmers aren’t supposed to get emotionally attached to their livestock. But when you suddenly find yourself caring for two newborn sheep, these things happen.

I think she may be in it for appearances. Plus, I really miss paper towels.

We worked seasonal jobs to make enough money to spend the rest of our time traveling and feared a white-picket-fence life. But now they've all put down roots, and I still have the same lifestyle.

She wants to show me the ropes. I want to cheer her on from the sidelines. What should I do?

Is one person’s way of having fun inherently better?

Can a relationship survive a grand adventure? That was the big question hanging over two novice sailors as they set out on a voyage off the coast of New England.

And what to do when your girlfriend won't hike with you but plans to hit the trails with her friend

Relationship dynamics in the outdoors are hard; getting out with friends can help

You've spent ages preparing for a trip, but now it's right around the corner and you're having second thoughts

For 38 months, Rowlf brought love, slow meandering walks, and dog ice cream cones into writer Brendan Leonard's life. And now Rowlf is gone.

Weight-loss discussion in outdoor forums can inadvertently reinforce the idea that there's a "correct" kind of outdoors body. What should you post about where?

Is there something about adventure and risk that opens our hearts? Absolutely.

From paddling a river during a forest fire to improvising a 62-mile trail run after a race cancellation, here are the most hilarious, heartwarming, and jaw-dropping outdoor meet-cutes gone right

“I went into this relationship happy to share my experience with someone new to the sport, but lately I just feel like an unpaid guide when what I want is a partner”

“She had such a cute face,“ he said

Our furry friends are the best of adventure playmates. But they can also provide pure, unconditional love that gets us through the darkest times.

It doesn't matter why he's not showing up. It just matters that he's not there.

We asked a bunch of great writers to bear down, focus, and tell us what makes them giddiest in the outdoors. Join them as they celebrate everything from diving off rocks to adventure flirting to … shivering in a bed between cold sheets? (Hey, don’t judge.) Plus: five scientifically proven ways to up the fun and improve your health.

My buddy switched the price tags on a tent to pay a lower amount on a more expensive setup. I was unaware, and now I feel terrible.

If chronic overthinking is getting in the way of your next adventure, ask yourself these two questions

Last year, Annette McGivney lost her beloved yellow Lab, Sunny, and was overwhelmed by sadness. Since then she’s built a new life with a challenging rescue dog, and she’s learned a lot about the healing power of human and animal bonds.

The phone feature can be a convenient safety tool. But for one writer, it served as a crutch for anxiety.

I’ve lived in a van for a year. It sucks, and now I’m ready to change things up.

I’m on a quest to learn to love the body I’m in but afraid to push my limits outside

I want to thru-hike part of the AT or PCT, but I’m the main caregiver in my household

An experienced physician and marathoner answers questions you’re embarrassed to ask about running and sex

I’m not convinced I can be with someone who isn’t into the same kind of adventures as me

Reeling from her husband’s request to divorce after 25 years of marriage and two kids, Florence Williams was experiencing debilitating grief. An accomplished reporter, she decided to explore the science of heartache to see if she could find a cure. In this excerpt from her new book, ‘Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey,’ she heads out for a 120-mile solo paddle on Utah’s Green River, with a too heavy portable toilet and a shattered heart.

While getting his PhD in English, Logan Scherer developed an intense friendship with a male grad student that lasted for years, through his friend’s engagement and marriage to a woman. Scherer struggled to make sense of it, until he lost himself in a group of spinster nature writers from the late 19th century who eschewed marriage to live alone or with other women during a time when the language of queerness didn’t exist.

When you get creative with natural materials in parks, some call it art; others call it litter

Hoping to help my brother beat his alcohol addiction, I set up a two-wheel road trip through the scenic terrain of northeast Kansas. As usual, he was funny, endearing, maddening, and burdened by problems I couldn’t solve.

Please give me some kind of hope that I’m not raising a kid who always will prefer computers to canoes

A daring advice columnist sets off on a road trip with a singular goal: to ask strangers if they make love outside—in towns named Eden

Your style, no matter the reason, is your choice. Period.

Stories are about how human connections are made and kept in the outdoors, and how they’re evolving now—when community has never been more important or more at risk

Smart tips to make sure your new adventure partner has a blast and feels welcome outside