The Secret Naturist Handbook

[jbeegoode]

NUDE HIKING: Republished from "The Secret Naturist Handbook"

With nude rambling we can easily stroll around for an hour or two without carrying much with us. But when we want to embark on a full days hike, we usually need to take with us, or at least have available along the route, some means of obtaining food and drink. We could, of course, carry a large rucksack but should we wish to follow the principles of secret naturism, i.e. "to achieve total nudity and to carry the minimum of clothing and other items of equipment", this is not really an option.

When nude hiking I still like to comply with the principle mentioned above and try to avoid carrying much in the way of clothing or equipment. In fact, I try not to carry nothing with me at all but usually have to carry at least basic clothing. To achieve this, I plan my route ahead of time, preparing stashes of food, drink and emergency clothing along the way.

When planning a nude hike, you may not find that you are able to walk along the same route as you would when fully clothed, for the obvious reasons that you are likely to meet people. You need to choose routes where the likelihood of being seen is minimal and this is done by following less well known routes and avoiding known trails. By way of an example, there is a popular route to Broadlaw in the Tweedsmuir hills that follows the fence line, the route most people follow. However, you can also follow any of the small streams in the area, all of which will take you to the same place. A benefit is that these routes also provide cover from prying eyes and shelter from the wind.

Rather than carry food and water, I look for locations along my planned route where I can get easy access to create a stash. On a full days hike I will plan up to three stashes, one for mid-morning, one for lunch and another for mid-afternoon. Each will contain food and drink and depending on the area, spare clothing for emergencies.

Nude hiking in this manner is most thrilling and the feeling of satisfaction of having walked naked across many miles of open countryside without being seen and while carrying nothing at all, is considerable. Of course, safety must always be at the forefront and you should also plan ahead for potential problems such as the weather turning for the worst. A good rule is, if in doubt, always carry stuff with you.

[jbeegoode]

NUDE RAMBLING: From The Secret Naturist Handbook

Nude rambling is perhaps the easiest activity for both beginner and experienced secret naturist alike. It does not require any special equipment or training and can be done just about anywhere by people of all ages. Indeed rambling is my personal preference for secret naturist outings.

I would define nude rambling as easy strolling around a relatively small area such as a patch of woodland or a coastal path. I wanted to define this here as there is another page on nude hiking which looks at longer and more extensive walks in the countryside.

For the secret naturist, nude rambling is an ideal way to explore the countryside. It allows you to  travel at your own pace, in your own time. Yet it also gives you the time to keep an eye open for people in the area who might see you. So, how do you get started with some secret naturist nude rambling?

In the first instance you need to find a suitable location, one where you are confident that nudity is possible. From past experience, I found that ideal locations are those that I was familiar with, that I had explored extensively while fully clothed. By having a detailed knowledge of the area, I knew where the trails led, where houses were located and most importantly, when people were likely to be around. With this knowledge I was reasonably confident that I would not be disturbed. Not 100% but near enough.

Even if you know such a place, I would still advise you carry out a thorough reccy of the area. While doing so, keep the thought in your mind that you will be naked. As you walk ask yourself questions such as, could people be coming round the next bend, can I cover up in time or is there somewhere to hide, and so on.

Perhaps my all-time favourite place for nude rambling is a large area of commercial forestry at Nether Stewarton, near Peebles, in the Scottish Borders. The forest is about 25 years old and is criss-crossed with various tracks, access roads and firebreak trails. It is also connected to a larger forest at Cloich and day-long nude rambles are possible. A typical nude ramble at this location would go as follows.

As the area is popular with dog walkers during the day, I would usually arrive in the late evening, say an hour or two before dusk, parking the car in the small lay-by. If no-one was on site when I arrived, I would walk into the wood until out of sight from the road, there I would strip off and hide my clothing under the trees. I would then proceed to ramble along the many forest trails wearing only sandals and following a circuitous route, usually for a couple of hours or so, before returning back to the car park when darkness has fallen, collecting my clothing on the way.

This method allows be to be fairly certain that I will not encounter anyone heading out from the car park. Obviously, I cannot be 100% sure of this, but I have yet to see anyone in the area after dark. Of course, you don't have to hide your clothing as I mentioned above. In fact, I would only advise employing this method when you have extensive experience of an area and have been a secret naturist for some time.

When nude rambling, you need to stay alert to what is happening in the surrounding area, mainly to seek advance warning of potential encounters. In the forest environment when views are restricted, using your ears to listen for activity, is often the best approach. I will often stop and listen at trail junctions for just this reason. More than once I have heard the approach of people or vehicles and have had time to seek temporary cover until they passed by.

[jbeegoode]

Posted both as they tend to overlap during conversation.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

Hmm, not so much conversation...

Does this happen because the notion of nude rambling, etc., is now more legal than it used to be, over there in the UK?
Most of us are still victims, sneaking around, avoiding authority.

Next on the list is nude running.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

NUDE RUNNING: From the Secret Naturist Handbook

Although I'm not really into nude running, I've included a page here as it is one of the easiest ways of legitimately getting into the countryside, or any other location for that matter, and at any time of day or night. Of course, if you are already into running, so much the better as you will get fit as well. I must admit that when I wear running clothing and proper running shoes I do tend to start jogging, so its not a bad idea.

Runners have the ideal benefit of already starting off wearing little by way of clothing. Either shorts and a running vest, or perhaps longs and a lightweight running top. All these garments can be quickly removed and stored inside a small bumbag. Proper running shorts and a running vest will actually pack into the smallest of my bumbags, the LoweAlpine Belt Pack. Proper running clothing is also great if you want to travel lightweight as most items pack up small and weight very little.

So, what are the problems with nude running. In fact they are very similar to nude cycling. You travel quickly but at the expense of having reduce time to react to encounters. Your hearing also suffers as your heavy breathing dulls your senses. Having said that its still quite an enjoyable activity, if that what you like to do.

As I mentioned above I'm not really into nude running but have tried it on various occasions, mostly running along forest trails or across open moorland. On other occasions I've been nude running purely as a means of leaving an area as quickly as possible. But I won't go into that here. Perhaps that's good enough a reason to take up nude running and get fit into the bargain.

[jbeegoode]

I don't run much. I'm lazy about it. I'd like to run more, but if I run nude is the way. I love the sensuality of it, the breathing the wind across my sweating body. I feel a bit more naked, more alive when I'm out on a trail unencumbered running, than walking. It is two different things. Walking is a mindful experience of the environment and running becomes much more physical exercise, I'm more into the body affected by exertion. Walking at a rapid pace is a compromise as long as I'm grasping air and the heart is up.

My age has me leery of exercise of running on trails. Spills can mess an old fart up more with longer recovery, or lasting damages. I don't know how I could run in more mundane flat surfaces like sidewalks and streets, naked, without a treadmill or a short circle on a large yard. Running in a redundant motion isn't so good to do over time. Running on uneven more natural surfaces is natural motion and exercise of a greater variety of body parts and systems.


We have runners here.They probably have a more informed opinion than mine.
Jbee

[jmf]

I'm a runner. I usually run two or three times a week. Sometimes with a training group, sometimes alone. I run on roads and dirt roads. Some competitions in the year from 5 km to 42 km, unfortunately all this is dressed. But sometimes I find the opportunity to run naked and I take advantage of it. This year, in July, I had the opportunity to do the nudist race from Sopela to Spain. A 5 km race on a public beach in a seaside resort not far from Bilbao. I had wanted to do this race for years, but the distance from my region of the Alps was an obstacle. I did an post on my blog.
http://www.randonnues.fr/?p=5799

[MartinM]

Lookee, or whatever his name is, shares much in common with me (and no doubt others here) in enjoying walking, hiking and running naked in the hills and woods around. I have to put my mind back pre-2007 when these were written, before I realised I was a naturist and only occasionally got the opportunity of a little skinny dipping when out walking on occasion. Was this before the naked rambler? Whatever, the law north of the border seemed to be rather more rigorous in enforcing their idea of order, ie the wearing of appropriate clothing.

The above probably explains this TSNH approach where not being seen becomes almost an end in itself, something of a game. He clearly is seen on a number of occasions and only occasionally experiences a bad reaction, but his primary aim is not to be seen. It would be interesting to hear from him now, if he is still out there, and how his practice has changed.

I know I often try to avoid people to when I am out, out of a residual fear of negative reaction or of being recognised and still not being ready possibly to be publicly ‘celebrated’, either in the press or among colleagues and neighbours. But another side of me continually tells me that what I am doing is healthy and natural and that I should not need to be ashamed of what I do. More than that, it would be good for society if it took a more relaxed attitude to nudity and it was accepted that people swim and walk naked in the outdoors.

The TSNH writings can therefore sound very contrived to me, because they involve recce-ing and various devices to deliberately walk in an area naked without being seen. It seems to lack some of the sense of freedom that I enjoy when I am out. Nowadays, I will seek out a quiet area and just go and walk, keeping of the main paths if necessary to reduce chances if meeting people. I often set out now just wearing a wrap, so if I meet people before I undress, they will still recognise me as a naturist. Once away from busy areas, it comes off and I just take the ‘risk’ of running into someone around the corner before I can put my wrap on. If I see someone a distance away, I generally don’t bother to cover up unless I will pass close to them. All this is helped by the legal situation now in England and Scotland, knowing that it is not illegal - whereas it was assumed 10 years ago, especially in Scotland, that public nudity was illegal.

I do love hiking in the wilds naked with not a care, knowing that if I come upon someone it is not a problem. When in groups and away from home, I am emboldened much further, bringing the joy of outdoor naturism to the notice of many other walkers when taking part in NEWT last year, or our weekend at Loch Ossian Youth hostel in The Scottish highlands. I have now passed hundreds or more while walking naked

I appreciate that TSNH advice may still be relevant to those who live in less forgiving jurisdictions, but am grateful for the way that in the UK and Europe at least we can fully engage with nature without the need for perpetual secrecy and stealth.

[nuduke]

NUDE EXPLORING: From The Secret Naturist Handbook:
About 30 minutes drive from Edinburgh, there's an old quarry with extensive underground limestone workings.

Was this written by Lookee, Jbee?  If so it probably establishes the phantom fellow as a resident of Scotland.  Funny, I've always imagined Lookee was American.
John

[nuduke]

I'm a runner. I usually run two or three times a week. Sometimes with a training group, sometimes alone. I run on roads and dirt roads. Some competitions in the year from 5 km to 42 km, unfortunately all this is dressed. But sometimes I find the opportunity to run naked and I take advantage of it. This year, in July, I had the opportunity to do the nudist race from Sopela to Spain. A 5 km race on a public beach in a seaside resort not far from Bilbao. I had wanted to do this race for years, but the distance from my region of the Alps was an obstacle. I did an post on my blog.
http://www.randonnues.fr/?p=5799

Goodness, JMF!
You must be very physically fit, all that hiking up mountains and regular running.  I do wish I was better at exercise.  I have just never left much room ofr it in my life.  Just 2 yoga sessions a wekk and the odd walk is about my bag of exercise.
John

[Greenbare Woods]

Lookee also had web sites promoting exhibitionism, which he also practiced.  Streaking at football matches, for example.  The "secret" thing was only part of his practice.

[jbeegoode]

Lookee or Corbie, check out the first few of posts of this thread. I thought of him as American, too, but I began to see pieces of language from the UK and Corbie is an unusual name here. I never narrowe it down to Scotland.

Yea, Bob, I vaguely remember a dares sight long ago. I think Lookee did it. Corbie never came up.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

RIVER BUGGING: Excerpt from "The Secret Naturist Handbook"

One of the great things about being a secret naturist and having your own web site is that you have somewhere to air your ideas. No matter how weird or wacky they are might seem initially there will always be someone out there who shares your passion. Naked river-bugging is one of those ideas.

This page actually came about while I doing a bit of tracking along the banks of the River South Esk near Edinburgh. I had been following the tracks left by a mink and suddenly realised that this stretch of the river was very secluded and ideal for secret naturist activities such as skinny dipping. However, I wanted something more adventurous and recalled an idea I had once had of using an air-bed (or something similar) to float naked downstream. Naked river-bugging was born.

The idea would be to first purchase a cheap but sturdy inflatable mattress or air-bed. You can pick these up for less than £10.00 if you shop around. The main problem is finding something sturdy enough to withstand the rigours of river use. One thought would be to reinforce the underside with heavy duty builder's polythene or a tarpaulin. Not sure how but it should be possible. Alternatives to an inflatable mattress are car or lorry inner tubes, inflatable snow sleds and tubes, even three or four camping mats taped together might do the job. However, something easily transported and inflated is a must.

In practice the idea would be to find a suitable river where you can float naked downstream without being seen. How far you want to go is open to choice but the longer the distance the greater the challenge and my thoughts would be for about 3 miles or so if possible. Using the cover of darkness would also add additional thrills to the expedition.

Then there are a couple of options on dealing with clothing. The first would be to undress at the start and carry your clothing with you, safely sealed inside waterproof bags. Stuffing your clothing into two or three layers of polythene bags, carefully sealed, should suffice and then into your bumbag. You can then float naked from start to finish, get dressed and return home. A small towel might also be useful.

The second option would be to pre-arrange a clothing dump at the point you intend to finish your river bugging run. This would be the clothing you use to get home. At the start of your run you would strip off and hide your clothing nearby, to be collected at a later time. This would allow you the additional thrill of completing your river run without carrying clothing and would certainly be the more challenging of the above options.

Safety is obviously an issue here. It would be wise to walk the entire river bank, checking for rapids, shallow areas where you might run aground, debris such as trees and branches and so on. The river would need to be deep enough that you can float yet not too deep to be overly risky. River water will always be cold but is more bearable during the summer months. Finally, it might be a good idea to wear sports sandals to protect your feet and to be able to swim as well.

A final point should you decide not to carry any clothing with you is to think about a disaster plan. What would you do if forced to abandon the journey before reaching your clothing stash. Would you be able to return to your original clothing or make your way by other means to your planned clothing stash? Something to think about.

[jbeegoode]

We call this "tubing" or "rafting." Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer did this on the Mississippi, in Mark Twain books.

The Salt river is too popular and crowded, but just north of Winkleman, Arizona the Gila River works. The last time DF and I passed by, we noticed the lack of people on weekdays. We have a pact to give it a go, nude.

The immediate danger is sunburn. The reflective water and lack of shade make a huge difference.

I haven't done it since 1974 and in cut off levis. There are submerged trees and branches. The current can be very strong depending on rains. Some meanders are very shallow and in an inner tube, you must lift your butt. My girlfriend at the time got caught on a branch and lost her tube in heavy current and about drowned. Very scary.

You have to have two cars, one at entry and one at exit to get back to car A. It's like doing river kayaks that way.

Those tubes need to be blown up the night before to be sure that they don't leak. There are many long spots where there is just no river bank, or clogged with small trees and nasty brush. There is no trail along the stream, which is good for stealth, but not for getting out, if your conveyance goes flat.

The tubes generally follow the current, which is deeper and safe. It is generally very peaceful.

My son was tubing the Salt River when his pal disappeared and drowned. Couldn't swim much and tipped over. He touched fingers and then had to watch him sink away. Be careful out there. People get drunk tubing, but it isn't a good idea.
Jbee

[Greenbare Woods]

The Gila river has some nice CO hot springs you could pause at as you float past.  Maybe that's only in NM. 

When in high school I would spend time in summer with my friends in Leavenworth, WA.  The Wenatchee River had a nice small beach near town.  We would use inner tubes to float over some fun rapids in the river.  And then there was a more calm back eddy where we could float back to the starting place.  We didn't swim naked most of the time. We were scared of being seen because the beach was only 3 blocks from the center of town.