Dating Industry Caters to Singles in Search of Challenge

Thrill-seeking singles who find themselves bored by the typical movie, concert and dinner dates have found a more exciting way to meet people -- adventure dating.

A cottage industry is emerging to meet the needs of adventurous singles who want to leave boredom behind.

Adventure dating is about "seeing people in possibly their true light, or possibly out of their comfort zone," said Scott Peterson, marketing director of River Runners, a Buena Vista, Colo., company that operates on 5 acres on the banks of the Arkansas River. On Sundays, singles come to run the rapids, play beach volleyball, cook out or soak in the nearby hot springs after their communal river adventure.

"It's just stepping out of the norm from, 'Hey, wanna go to a movie?' " Mr. Peterson said.

The industry brings singles outdoors and into contact with other adventure seekers.

Mr. Peterson met his fiancee while working together conducting whitewater rafting tours for River Runners. Two other couples on staff, including the owners Jon and Stacey Donaldson, met while on rafting and other outdoor adventures.

Mr. Peterson said adventure dating provides excellent opportunities to see the "real" person on a first date.

Andria Davis, president of Brushy Mountain Publishing, met her future husband, Leland, while kayaking. Their second date was hiking in the Grand Canyon.

"The adventure of it is what made us like each other because it was an intense situation and we were both relaxed and having fun and we enjoyed being in an intense situation together," Mrs. Davis said.

At one point on the kayak trip, Mrs. Davis injured her shoulder, forcing her to climb out of her boat and make it back to the car on foot. Mr. Davis knew the way out of the river gorge and offered to help her.

"By the time we got out of that gorge, which took several hours, we knew we really liked each other," Mrs. Davis said.

The Davises have been married a year and a half, and they continue to a lead active lifes. He runs Brushy Mountain's Web site, while she publishes their geographical adventure guides and distributes her yoga videos. They both continue to guide groups on outdoor adventures.

"It helped us have a stronger marriage and a stronger relationship knowing that we've been through difficult times together already," Mrs. Davis said.