In August I was in Denver and was making the return trip alone. The quickest route home is I70 and I15, which I’ve done many times. So I decided to take a longer and more scenic route south through the San Luis Valley then west. At the northern end of the Valley is,
Orient Land Trust. A couple others on the forum have been there, so I decided to stop to see the place and check it out. This would be my 1st visit to a CO facility.
Their website advised making an appointment so I booked my visit before I left Denver. I expected to be there just a couple of hours. I arrived after a 4 hr. drive, then went to sign in. The main office building looked like an old country store. Wooden steps up on a wooden porch to a screen door and a glass paned wood panel door.
After paying a day use fee, they gave me a token to open the gate. Along the drive I could see campsites scattered among the trees. They looked well shaded and didn’t appear to be too close to each other.
I found a parking spot on a dusty lot near the main pool bath house. I rolled the window down and sat there reading the handouts from the office. One was a small site map for camping and hot springs. The other that was an explanation of their naturist policies. Clothing is completely optional no matter what. No pressure to be naked or dressed. Families including children are welcome. I was a single male and they made no comment. They even have a shed along the upper camp road called a “smoke hut”, for those that enjoy smoking certain leaf products. As long as it’s legal, you can smoke it, but you have to do it in the hut (or your car).
All the buildings had the same basic rustic appearance. Not flashy at all. This place is intended for people that want to spend time as close to nature as possible and still have a few creature comforts. The restrooms and baths are all communal. Although the handouts said that there are a couple of cabins with private restrooms.
While I was reading, a car pulled up next to me and two women got out. They were discussing their plans. I think they were there for just a day visit also. Another woman walked up as they were talking. The driver opened the rear hatch and they all moved to the back of the van and proceeded to disrobe. Time for me to make the leap. I opened the door, got out and began to take off my clothes, leaving them on the seat. No safety net! The three women next to me were still standing naked at the back of the car talking and busy getting ready. After they finished, they each put on a body wrap, grabbed their stuff and off they went.
I went to a picnic table nearby under some trees, to get organized. I put my pack on the table and was back and forth to get my things out of the car. After I got ready I walked down to the bathroom at the end of the parking lot. The door was wide open. For ventilation? It was in fact a communal restroom. Facilities for men and women. I stood at urinal and could look out a clear window to my right and see outdoors just as easily as someone outside could see me, full height, standing there. To use the restroom yet be visible to anyone inside or out was weirdly unsettling and uhhh . . . energizing?
All this was new to me but I sort of liked it. I was feeling better, not only about my reactions but others as well. Wherever I walked, it felt ok. I saw teens, young adults, middle aged and elderly in all states of dress. No one seemed to care or notice that I was naked. If they did, I wasn’t aware of it. There was one elderly woman wandering about in the parking area. All she had on was a pair of flip-flops with a towel over her shoulder. I guess she was waiting for someone and preferred to keep active instead of sitting. I felt I was among like minded folks. At least about the lack of clothes.
Because this was my 1st visit to a CO facility, I was a wondering a little about being naked among a large group of strangers. What would it be like? How would I react? How would they react? As I walked around, I discovered that not that many people were naked away from the hot springs. There were a few though, enough that I didn’t feel like the odd man out. My 1st naked social hike a while back with my FRN forum friends, Jbee and DF from Tucson and Ken and Amy from Dewey had broken the ice for me on social nudity.
Most of the activity was around the hot spring pools, 10 for public use. I only saw a few people in the ponds wearing bathing suits. The younger people seemed to be less concerned about the nudity. And I did see young and old either fully or partially nude.
Because of limited time, I had decided to do the hike up to the old mining town. It is 1-1/4 mile hike up a jeep trail and over a 500 ft. elev. gain. As I was headed up, a woman, clothed, was walking back down the hill. Just a “hello” was the only exchange. I spent some time at the old mining town site and took some pictures, but no other visitors showed up. I pretty much had the whole place to my naked self.
The road to the mine and old town.
Walking out toward some the foundation ruins.
The gate in old town, go right to the tailings pile and left to the Bat Cave!
Holy Guano Batman!
A switchback to the upper part of the old town.
A view of San Luis Valley, southwest, from just above Meadow Pond.
Two deer I met on the road.
A panorama of the valley and the dirt road into the property.
Hwy 285, the one I was traveling on, is 7 miles across the
valley at the foot of the mountains on the far side.
The old town is at about 9,000 ft. and it was a cloudless day. I was getting a great UV treatment from the sun. It was silent, peaceful at the ruins. The temps were perfect with a little breeze. So, after a bit, I headed back down to the main site. When I got back, I took a walk on a trail that circles the central area where the main hot pools are. I considered heading up to the top pools but I didn’t have time, so I turned back toward my car. Most of the pools were occupied and busy with conversation.
Reading from the handout you learn that, OLT is a community trying to maintain a sustainable ecosystem that will have less of an impact on their mountain environment. They claim to be COMPLETELY off grid and are very up front about the fact that they are a fully clothing optional facility, with the emphasis on optional. No requirement either way. As part of their sustainability they just happen to have embraced the core principles of naturism. Essentially, that we are part of the natural environment, our clothes are not. It fits into the whole living within nature aspect of their mission, I guess. It appears that they are trying to keep those values in the forefront of their effort to bring their ideas to the public. They are trying to maintain a small community where all are joined by that common thread. The clothing optional part is just a benefit. Very refreshing! Of course, at 9000 ft., you will need clothes at some point. The night temps were projected for the mid 40’s.
As I mentioned, it is a family oriented facility, I did see kids, toddlers and a couple of teens. The whole time, I remained naked. I took an idea of Jbee’s and began to jot down thoughts and ideas as I moved around. I believe that choosing to do the hike up to the old mining site helped. I was able to walk a 2-1/2 mile round trip, similar to what I am accustomed to here at home. By the time I got back down, I was more relaxed and at ease. I had begun to realize that most of the folks there were more like me than not. It was a new and uplifting experience for me.
I enjoyed the 3-1/2 hrs. I spent there. I wasn’t camping, so I didn’t have enough time to meet anyone or do much, and even though it’s over 700 miles and a 13 hr. drive from home, I would like to go back and finish my visit.
I mean!! I didn’t even have time to soak in a pool! I’ll have to go back.
I stayed naked until I pulled up, got out and dressed in front of the main office right before I left. I really didn’t want to leave.
P.S.
Jbee’s write-up on his website.
Bob’s write-up on this forum.
