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What are your views on naturists/nudists? Has anyone come upon a naked hiker/camper and what was the outcome ?

Fun topic!! Yea!!

Anyway--I voted for legally going nude. One judgement I use for a hike is the feasibilty of being nekkid and undiscovered at the destination of the hike. This is because I don't hike nude but like to skinny dip or lie about on warm rocks acting like a fat lazy lizard.... I think we here in the USA are great people but just a little too hung up on nudity or the overwhelming desire to act as though it's bad.

"I think I met you.

Naturally, it was rather informal. "

That is very very funny. Well put.

In response to chihiggs' reply: Coming from someone who has 'riding my motorcycle through the bar in Crown King' at the top of their list I am not surprised. :twisted:

Cindy!! Shhhhhhh.....

A few years ago I was at Horseshoe Reservoir (same general area as Bartlett Lake) waiting for my brother and his youngsters to show up. The water was about 30 feet lower than usual and there was a plethora of driftwood ringing the lake.

I was wandering along admiring the various wonderful driftwood designs that nature had served up when, all of a sudden, I looked up and saw a pickup with a camper shell. There was a man there (totally in the buff) having words with someone inside. I believe that his wife threw him out of the truck, but then again they could have been strict naturists and simply enjoying "being one with nature."

I headed back the other way, just a little miffed as I was unsure how they would take my possibly untimely arrival upon the scene. My brother and nieces had by then shown up and my nieces were later nervously giggling about my encounter.

I have since decided that these folks must have been members of the famous (or should I say "infamous") New River Nudist crowd.



I did however procure the most awesome piece of driftwood (about 5 foot tall) I've ever seen before the encounter and managed to still drag it back to my vehicle.

In response to chihiggs' reply: Oopps!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never done it, never will.... I am just to dagon shy and besides that the laughter it would cause would be to much for me to bare .

I guess I agree that it'd be fine if it were done tactfully... Say, if people were willing to cover up (at least with a towel or something) in the presence of kids.

My fear is people aren't going to have that amount of courtesy, so I voted 'No' on the poll.

This brings up a question? What is the legality of hiking/swimming nude? Can you get cited for indecent exposure? Would a ranger or authority figure ever actually write someone up for skinnydipping out in a river or something?

I know it's not illegal because at Verde Hot Springs there is a sign that clearly states: "Fine for Nude Bathing.

If it is illegal, the should station more rangers on the Bell Trail along the creek...tons of nekkid people everywhere. I was a bit surprised to come upon a young woman skinny dipping. I was a bit more surprised that I didn't notice that she had a male companion with her...seems as though I was distracted...didn't see him.

This might sound stupid, and perhaps should be a seperate post, but I've noticed that several mentioned their concern "about kids" seeing naked people. Is it really that big of a deal? I'm asking, I don't have kids...I'm just wondering if seeing a naked person is a "bad" thing. I'm not passing judgement or anything, I'm just curious what the justification is for wanting to shield kids from a chance encounter of a nekkid person...

ck1 wrote:This might sound stupid, and perhaps should be a seperate post, but I've noticed that several mentioned their concern "about kids" seeing naked people. Is it really that big of a deal? I'm asking, I don't have kids...I'm just wondering if seeing a naked person is a "bad" thing....

Hmm... I don't have kids either. lol. I guess I, at least, referred to kids in specific because adults, after happening upon a group of nude hikers or campers, probably wouldn't need to be pulled aside for an hour to explain the differences between boys and girls, or something silly like that. Not to say that parents shouldn't cover that topic--indeed they should--but it'd be a little inconvenient to have to do so in the middle of a long dayhike.

I guess I should correct myself to say they should be willing to cover up for anyone who seems uncool with it. The nudists might be out there to enjoy nature in the buff, but other hikers aren't necessarily, and probably aren't there to enjoy others in the buff either. :-P

i've been exploring trails in az for 5 years now and when ever possible i've done it with little or no clothes. the most difficult part is finding areas not frequented often by other hikers,with the intent of avoiding those 'uncomfortable meetings' with clothed and or close minded hikers. recently i took my wife and 12 year old son to Faywood Hot Springs in NM(just n.w. of Deming) and the advice i gave my son was"when you make a speach you imagine others in the audience naked,this is to ease the tension.so when you are around naked people you imagine them with clothes on,it works both ways. several of you have hit on a few key points about nude hiking. 1) how do you carry anything? you use a belly bag with 2 water pockets. 2) what about the cactus? you go where there is none,the mountains for instance. 3) sunburn? sunblock. anyway i've found it to be fun,exilerating, and liberating. some day when you are in a beautiful mnt meadow or hiking up a cool stream bed go ahead and try it, even if for only a few mins., it will at least make you feel young and adventurous again. you might even like it enough to go the entire hike next time.

Should hiking nude be allowed in public lands? No. Should walking down the street nude be allowed? Why not? Same thing.

It all boils down to "when do your freedoms begin to infringe upon mine". I contend that you walking around naked offends me. Do I have a choice in whether I see this? Not if you're doing it on public lands. Now, if being an exhibitionist is your thing...more power to you...join a nudist colony. Just don't subject me to your ideology of naked nature loving.

Someone brought up the question on children: is it bad for them to see naked adults? Is it your choice to decide that for my kids? Hell no.

one thing i do know, it's a safer and more morally acceptable hobby than say...guns. i also believe you should be able to go hiking,fishing,etc. with your kids and not have to be concerned about nude hikers popping up in your space. but that doesn't mean a trail or three couldn't be designated as a clothing optional trail. that way our ideologies wouldn't clash, i'd be happy and you'd be insulated and protected from exibitionists like me.

steve tidwell wrote:one thing i do know, it's a safer and more morally acceptable hobby than say...guns.

Huh?

Forget the sex vs. violence argument, I'm not trying to get into politics... But that statement just isn't even a parallel comparison. "Hiking nude" is a hobby. "Guns" isn't. Gun collecting? Yes. Hunting? Yeah. Going on a killing spree? Hopefully not.

Saying "Guns" is a hobby is like saying "Nude" is a hobby... Nude what? Nude sculpture? Nude poker? "Nude" sure isn't morally acceptable if you interpret it as "Huge nude orgies in the middle of a developed campground".

Sorry... Didn't mean to go off on you. The way you phrased that just made me twitch a bit.

steve tidwell wrote: i also believe you should be able to go hiking,fishing,etc. with your kids and not have to be concerned about nude hikers popping up in your space. but that doesn't mean a trail or three couldn't be designated as a clothing optional trail. that way our ideologies wouldn't clash, i'd be happy and you'd be insulated and protected from exibitionists like me.

This is really what I was trying to say. Our society does not allow public nudity. If I were to walk nude on Mill Ave I'd get arrested. Likewise, nudity in Kiwanas Park is prohibited. In general, public nudity is prohibited. That's why Naturists sometimes purchase and maintain large tracts of private land where they can wander sans clothing without hassles.
I think it'd be fine to designate a few trails as clothing optional but doubt that will happen anytime soon.

No one else seems to have said it, so I will:
It depends on what you look like.

Sometimes I hike with my gun naked. Does that count?

long time no see mi scruffy amigo!

so does this mean somebody here will be forming a "Packin' in the Buff" club

In response to joe bartels' reply:

Gawwd I hope not!!!

Don't we a have enough problems in this state??

Seems like there are a few of us out there. If anyone is interested you can check out our clubs web site at (dead link removed) and if anyone is ever interested in joining us on a hike let me know.