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Dating site coming for High Country singles

Evan Sandsmark
Special to the Daily
Vail CO, Colorado

SUMMIT COUNTY, Colorado ” Thanks to a new Web site set up by some enterprising locals, frustrated High Country singles will have a new place to search for partners online. However, this isn’t a standard dating Web site, allowing membership to a global circuit of singles. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, and it means to be.

The Web site, http://www.WildMountainHonies.com, the creation of Holly Vliet and Melody Shell, seeks to specifically “connect mountain folks to others who share their love for mountain life,” rather than digitally introduce members to a seemingly infinite amount of people scattered across the globe.

People who live outside of mountain towns will be “politely” denied membership.



The Web site is substantially styled for people who live a mountain-oriented lifestyle. In addition to standard compatibility questions, the site places a heavy stress on the activities that members most participate in. A member’s “fun choices” are even listed in lieu of his or her income.

The motivation for creating the site, according to Shell, stems from the limited number of individuals who live in small mountain towns.

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“It’s hard to meet new people if you’re with the same group every time you go out,” Shell said. “WildMountainHonies.com intends to liberate its members from the banal rut many small town residents find themselves in.”

Small communities are great for familiar love and support, but that doesn’t necessarily help a newcomer looking for conversation over a beer.

Furthermore, Shell said she believes members who start a relationship will be more inclined to move to their partner’s mountain town because the risk of a lifestyle sacrifice will all but diminish.

Shell also is quick to point out that the site is in no way limited to singles looking for a partner.

“The site is like a combination of Match.com and Facebook,” she said.

Visitors unfamiliar with a particular mountain town could ask residents (who would also have to be members) about local attractions and hotspots. A Lake Tahoe resident, for example, could offer advice on good local bars in exchange for the best bowl to ski at Keystone after a snowstorm.

This type of interconnectivity among mountain communities is Shell’s goal. If it works, locals throughout mountain communities as far north as Canada will benefit, at least in theory, when visiting different areas.

The Web site does charge users. It’s free to browse listings, but membership to the site varies. A one-month membership will cost you $27; a yearlong membership runs $132.

Those interested in joining can log on at http://www.WildMountainHonies.com.


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