Steamboat Pilot & Today

This winter, the Steamboat Pilot & Today received a phone call from Amy Raymond, the casting director for ABC's "The Bachelor." She had heard of Steamboat's unfair and much-debated male-female ratio. If the rumors were correct, she thought this would be the perfect place to look for the show's next bachelor.

We decided to help her.

For three weeks, the Steamboat Pilot & Today sought nominations for Steamboat's most eligible bachelor.

The perfect nominee would be between the ages of 25 and 35 (we made a few exceptions). He would have a career, or the beginnings of one. He would be single and not previously married. He would be attractive and charismatic. He would be, in short, the kind of guy 25 women looking for love on a TV show could fall for, and the kind of guy America would want to watch.

Immediately, nominations started pouring in -- mostly from mothers, sisters and female friends of guys they couldn't believe hadn't found someone. ABC received so many nominations from Steamboat that Raymond called to personally thank us.

Here's a sampling of the bachelors Steamboat has to offer:

George Barlow

Occupation: Restaurant owner/builder/investor

Age: 39

Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyo.

George Barlow has lived in the Yampa Valley for 14 years. He is the owner of Subway and TCBY in Steamboat Springs, but he spends his free time traveling and climbing mountains.

He has been to all seven continents and is on a quest to climb the highest point on each one. Barlow has been featured for his climbing in Steamboat Magazine and the Steamboat Pilot.

"What I really enjoy about dating is having someone to do outdoor activities with," Barlow said. "I love to do anything outdoors -- backcountry skiing, rock or ice climbing, kayaking.

"And I love to travel. The whole thing with climbing the seven summits is that it has afforded me to go to other countries, to meet the people there, learn about different religions and at the same time be able to accomplish a pretty big goal."

Q. How many serious relationships have you been in?

A. Three

Q. What's your best pick-up line?

A. It may sound a little hokey, but I tend to give a card or a simple gift, rather than a line.

Q. What are you looking for in a woman?

A. Adventurous, sensual, physical, open and honest.

Q. What can you offer a woman?

A. Green eyes, a great laugh and a great attitude. And if that's not enough: the most romantic, home-cooked dinner with an incredible view of the Yampa Valley.

Q. What is your idea of romance?

A. Backcountry skiing or hiking with a surprise lunch break (strawberries and cream with shaved chocolate, raspberry-flavored hot chocolate, and gourmet cheeses with crackers.)

Q. What do you think of the dating scene in Steamboat?

A. I don't.

-- George Barlow can be reached by e-mail at steamboatbachelor@zirkel.us

Scott Glackman

Occupation: Publisher/writer/photographer

Age: 31

Hometown: Woodinville, Wash.

Scott Glackman is an outgoing man who makes people comfortable with his great smile. He has a strong sense of his own spirituality and spent a lot of time soul searching through travel and time outdoors.

He graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in outdoor recreation, but makes his living as the owner of The Local, a small alternative newspaper.

In his free time, he volunteers with Partners in Routt County, is involved with the Steamboat Springs Peace and Justice Center and likes to play outside.

Q. How many serious relationships have you been in?

A. Too many, I prefer the fun ones.

Q. What's your best pick-up line?

A. "Hi."

Q. What are you looking for in a woman?

A. Playfulness, wit, a sense of wonder, a thirst for knowledge, an adventurous spirit, compassion and unpredictability.

Q. What can you offer a woman?

A. I can build a fire, catch a fish, sing a song, change a tire and I can show her a good time even in the city.

Q. What is your idea of romance?

A. Romance is an unrehearsed dance in perfect time. It is like an inside joke between lovers that keeps them at the point just before laughter. I've had grocery excursions that were more romantic than dinners out at the finest restaurants. (Wine and natural hot springs do have their place, though.)

Q. What do you think of the dating scene in Steamboat?

A. The dating scene in Steamboat Springs can be like a fish bowl under a heat lamp. That in mind, patience is key, dating passers-through seldom works and long-term relationships rarely begin at the bar.

-- Scott Glackman can be reached

by e-mail at glackman@earthlink.net

Brad Weber

Occupation: Middle school teacher

Age: 29

Hometown: Western Springs, Ill., a suburb of Chicago

Brad Weber's best endorsement came from his close friend Sydney Craig.

"Brad does everything," she said. "He skis. He cooks. He plays the bass. He's social. And he doesn't own a television.

"There's nothing he won't do for you. There's not a favor anyone could ask that he would turn down. If he worked six days a week and only had one day off and you needed him to help you move, he would."

Concert-goers may have seen Brad at Levelz wearing an orange jumpsuit and roller skates, filming his friends on stage with a video camera.

"He's a really funny guy," Craig said.

Q. How many serious relationships have you been in?

A. A couple

Q. What are you looking for in a woman?

A. Intelligence. Wit. Ability to organize and plan. Beauty. Emotional and physical health.

Independence. Honesty. Sense of style. Deep appreciation of her surroundings. Pheromone compatibility.

Q. What can you offer a woman?

A. To the right woman, I'd offer a wide variety of skills. A humble home. Someone who is very comfortable in his own skin. I'd rather look at Vanity Fair than Sports Illustrated. I'd also offer her the task of paying the bills on time. I'll do the cooking.

Q. What won't you do for love?

A. I'd try most anything once, but I am not much for infidelity.

Q. What is your idea of romance?

A. Living a life together so well that when we are old and wrinkly, we are still giddy and starry-eyed about taking a cruise together for our 50th anniversary.

Q. What do you think of the dating scene in Steamboat?

A. Steamboat is a very small town.

Q. What do you tell a girl about yourself on the first date?

A. I don't go on many dates, but I would tell her whatever she wanted to know. No secrets. She will quickly learn that I am passionate about education, learning and change.

Q. Tell us your best joke.

A. I am like the grasshopper.

A grasshopper walks into a bar and sits down. The bartender turns, sees him, and says, "Hey, we've got a drink named after you." The grasshopper looks surprised and says, "Really? You've got a drink named Fred?"

Brad Weber can be reached

by e-mail at bipedexplorer@yahoo.com

Dan Robbins

Occupation: Business owner

Age: 29

Hometown: Fairbury, Neb.

For Dan, the most important thing in a relationship is a sense of humor.

"I know when to be serious, but overall, I don't take myself seriously," he said.

He is looking for someone who wants to go out and have fun, not someone who wants to sit on the couch.

"I don't mind being a homebody every now and again, but you can sit and watch television when you're old," he said. "I want someone who will drop everything to do something adventurous."

Dan is looking for a woman who knows what she wants -- financially, out of a relationship and out of life.

"I'm looking for someone who is motivated with her own goals, but has free time," he said. "And I'm looking for someone to be real. I'm not a fake person, and sometimes that gets me in a lot of trouble."

In his free time, Dan is a big motorhead. He likes motorcycles and off roading. He likes to be outdoors and isn't very interested in the bar scene.

Q. How many serious relationships have you been in?

A. One.

Q. What are you looking for in a woman?

A. Humorous, athletic, independent, outgoing and confident.

Q. What can you offer a woman?

A. Enough romance, commitment and sincerity to make all her friends jealous.

Q. What won't you do for love?

A. I won't change who I am.

Q. What is your idea of romance?

A. Romance is a sunset walk offset by the waves crashing on the beach, hand in hand with the one you love.

Q. What do you think of the dating scene in Steamboat?

A. Sucks.

Q. What do you tell a girl about yourself on the first date?

A. Nothing. It's all about her.

-- Dan Robbins can be reached by e-mail

at danrobbins2004@yahoo.com