Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. For those of you with an adventurous side, I’ve compiled a short field guide to dating in the outdoor scene.

The Cold-Smoke Snob

Where to find him: Knee-deep in powder somewhere out West, or in Ithaca, locked in his room pining over pictures of the Rockies and ski movies.

The date: Somewhere cheap with good dark beer (hint: sketchiest looking bar in town).

Pros: Probably has a season pass and can get you a discount on a lift ticket.

Cons: No (girl)friends on a powder day.

The Sport Climber

Where to find her: Rockin’ all the 5.13 routes at the Gunks.

The date: Lindseth/Noyes climbing walls, if you don’t mind being shown up by a girl.

Pros: The body.

Cons: The attitude.

The Freshman Wilderness First Responder

Where to find him: Sneaking into a bar at a kayaking festival or teaching a paddling class in Helen Newman.

The date: Ice climbing in the Adirondacks.

Pros: Boundless energy could be put to good use. Plus, he knows how to set a dislocated shoulder.

Cons: He hasn’t hit that growth spurt yet.

The Red Neck

Where to find her: Somewhere in the woods, filling her deer tag, putting a lift kit on her pick-up or fishing for catfish with her bow.

The date: Watching the sunset while sitting around a campfire after an evening at the shooting range.

Pros: She’s got skills (field dressing skills, fly-fishing skills, taxidermy skills, skinny-dipping skills, etc.). She’s also useful when your car breaks down.

Cons: She might be more man than you are.

The Park Rat

Where to find him: Working on his Kangaroo-flip at Greek Peak or smoking it up in the parking lot.

The date: Watch the X-Games together, but don’t be surprised if he hardly notices you’re in the room when Shaun White drops into the Superpipe.

Pros: If he goes pro, he’ll buy you a big house in Aspen. Until then, you can borrow his shampoo.

Cons: He spent all his money on matching camo snow pants and jacket, and can’t afford to take you to dinner.

The Creek Boater

Where to find her: Kayaking Class V with the aforementioned “Cold-Smoke Snob” in California or Mexico.

The date: An out of the way cantina with lots of tequila. Tell her you like her boof stroke.

Pros: Kayakers are some of the most resourceful (read: cheap) humans on the planet. She can teach you how to hitch-hike, score eddy beers and find gear for next-to-nothing.

Cons: The smell of neoprene and a tendency to disappear between May and September.

Row, row, row your boat: Kayaking makes a great Valentine's Day date.

The Pre-Orientation Outdoor Trip Coordinator

Where to find him: In the basement of Bartels, 24/7.

The Date: A vegetarian pot-luck followed by an evening at the Banff Film Festival.

Pros: The man knows his leave-no-trace ethics and can bear bag a week’s worth of freeze-dried food in three minutes or less.

Cons: Come next August, you’ll be competing against 70 freshman girls for his attention. RLD

The Mountain Biker:

Where to find her: Racing down terrifying single-track trails at 50 mph like she was born on a bike. If you can catch her.

The date: A romantic bike ride, followed by an equally romantic trip to the emergency room.

Pros: Bike shorts. Need I say more?

Cons: You’ll be expected to nurse her back to health. Again, and again, and again. ...

The Streaking Team Captain:

Where to find him: Fearlessly leading Cornell’s most elite, underground bare brigade.

The date: A short loop through North Campus and around Bebe Lake. If you’re lucky you can avoid the police. If you’re not, you might be staying the night. In jail, that is.

Pros/Cons: What you see is what you get.