High-altitude dating platform in Switzerland stirs mountainous romantic connections
In the picturesque Swiss Pre-Alps, a unique dating phenomenon is taking the world by storm. Known as Mountain Tinder, this innovative concept originated as an analogue alternative to the digital dating scene, offering hikers a chance to connect in a more authentic, nature-based interaction.
The idea was born in 2023, when Thibaud Monney, a 29-year-old avid hiker, came up with the concept during a climb up the Dent de Broc, overlooking the Lake of Gruyere. As a joke, he left a notebook at the peak, inviting others to write about themselves, interests, and contact details, hoping for a response from fellow climbers.
The concept soon gained traction, with hikers using red notebooks left at high-altitude spots like the Wandflue peak (2,133 meters) to pen their personal messages. The "algorithm" of this analogue alternative was simple yet effective—only those able and willing to hike to certain altitudes could participate, acting as a filter for physical fitness and personality traits.
As the idea spread, Mountain Tinder became known for its natural charm and human way of connecting, away from the digital world. Locals and tourists alike embraced it, with some couples, like Cathy Rotzetter and Patrick, meeting through these notebooks and sharing their stories publicly, further popularizing the concept.
Thibaud Monney, the creator of Mountain Tinder, prefers this system over online dating apps because it requires reaching the peak, as opposed to choosing a person based on a picture and swiping left or right. He finds it rewarding "to make someone happy" when couples meet through his notebooks.
The concept has since spread to other Swiss cantons and as far as Argentina, with the notebook on La Vudalla filling up fast. The peaks in the Mountain Tinder system serve as a filter for shared interests, particularly a love for nature and mountains.
Cathy Rotzetter's first date with Patrick was a long scenic walk ending with a picnic. Rotzetter appreciated that Patrick brought food and drink for her, and noticed that he kept pace with her during the walk. Monney himself found love through his notebooks, not by leaving messages but through someone contacting him after seeing him on television.
The Mountain Tinder system naturally filters for age and physical ability, with La Vudalla being one of the easier peaks to reach and Vanil de l'Ecri being a technically difficult climb. The messages in the notebooks often indicate interests such as passion for mountains, skiing, climbing, sports, metal music, and tattooed women.
Monney places the first Tinder notebooks on seven Fribourg peaks and replaces them as they fill up. He has received praise for liberating dating from algorithmic dictates with the Mountain Tinder concept, offering a refreshing and unique approach to finding love in the Swiss Alps.
- The unique Mountain Tinder concept, popular among hikers, not only provides an opportunity for outdoor-living enthusiasts to connect but also fosters relationships that are grounded in shared interests such as a love for nature, mountains, and home-and-garden activities.
- Apart from helping find love, the Mountain Tinder system also serves as a platform for individuals who share similar lifestyles, such as a passion for hiking, skiing, and tattooed women, to connect authentically, away from the digital world, thereby enriching their love-and-dating experiences.
