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Seeing as some of you have encountered nude hikers on the trail, I decided to post some thoughts about Nude Hiking Day. For those of you that don’t know, Nude Hiking Day is June 21 and is celebrated by naked hiking enthusiasts each summer.
I first heard about Nude Hiking Day last year when doing some research on trails, and came across an article about it. I thought it sounded outlandish, yet comical to say the least. Imagine hikers strolling along in the buff wearing only a pair of hiking boots and carrying a backpack…casually greeting other hikers or asking how much farther till the end.
We generally think of being prepared when venturing into the wilderness and that includes proper clothing. But, there is a segment of hikers that enjoy hiking naked. They say there is freedom to feeling the natural breezes on your skin and being able to skinny dip without the worry of removing your clothes. Another benefit they say, is the ability to easily spot ticks because ticks hide in clothing making them more difficult to find. Seems to me, being nude would make it easier for ticks to find you, if you know what I mean.
Hiking naked isn’t my cup of tea, and I would be completely shocked and appalled if M and E encountered a group of naked guys on the trail (their solo hike is what started this whole conversation in the first place), but in case you’re bold and aren’t afraid of being arrested for indecency, here are some tips for hiking naked.
Start out very early in the morning and hike on weekdays instead of weekends. You’re less likely to encounter clothed hikers at that time.
Folks hiking with children are less friendly to naked hikers. Hike on really tough trails in out of the way places to avoid scornful looks from parents.
If you’re caught by surprise, act natural. Acting strange or diving for cover will scare people and make you come across like a real creep.
Wear sunscreen or a hat. Hats are acceptable as long as you wear them on your head.
Use an insect repellent because skeeters and ticks can make your hike less enjoyable.
M and E on the Hidden Lake Trail in Glacier NP. Didn't see any hikers in the buff, thank goodness.
A big thank you toJanice, Buffy, and Kellie for the inspiration for this article. Check out their stuff, it's cool!
