Find love in the mountains

“I believe in the outdoors as an arena for flirting”, says Dag Terje Solvang, secretary-general of The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT). “I call it ‘sustainable’ to get to know someone you like in the mountains rather than in a bar, and hiking has proved a welcome replacement for the usual dating apps. You also have a greater chance of meeting someone when you share the same, healthy interest.”

Mountain pride festivals

Not only can wearing the Pride beanie lead to new relationships. It is also a great accessory for the many Pride festivals and events offered at high altitudes​, like the Vinje Pride that takes place in Jotunheimen every summer. “In Norway, we now have a pride festival in almost every little place, and that is absolutely fantastic”, Dag Terje says.

But wait – how sexy are they really, those sweaty mountain hikers?

“Perhaps the people you meet are a bit hot and sweaty, but at the same time, sports underwear reveals body shapes. It may help you focus. The many Norwegian Trekking Association cabins are probably the only places where nobody raises an eyebrow when you sit down for a communal dinner in your underwear”, Dag Terje laughs.

“In Norway, we often say that hiking in nature equals good health, and it’s also healthy to find someone to love.”