Last summer I was following posts from an older hiker on the Friends of De Anza Springs FB page. He would post photos of the trails around the area It had been a while since I'd been to De Anza Springs. A back injury kept me from hiking for a couple of years until it finally healed enough to try hiking again. For a while I couldn't walk more than a few yards without pain. I messaged him that his photos were inspiring me to keep up with rehab so I could get out there hiking nude again. I never heard back.
By the end of the year I'll have a 7 in front of my age. I've never been one to worry about such things yet I confess with the injury I did wonder if I'd ever be able to do any nude hiking again. I needed to try and by October with my back finally healing enough, I knew that it was time.
I carnuded out in early October and was surprised to find the gate open with only a sign advising visitors to check in at the office. It was a Sunday and the weather was warm and pleasant and there were quite a few nude guests and members hanging around the pool and playing volleyball in the indoor pool.
After paying my fee and re-registering as a guest again. Apparently after the place was sold the old outdated computer system was trashed, I struck out on a first tentative nude hike around the perimeter. All the trails have been improved with a few new ones added and they have a helpful map handout in the office now. I didn't hike very far maybe an hour or so.
The staff for the new owners were very nice and helpful and told me about an improved shaded trail near the entrance alongside the railroad tracks. The trail is through a grove of trees with overhanging branches gnarled in different shapes. It was a nice break from the desert and runs mainly from the gate area to the road to the Carizzo Gorge. It is part of the Peyote trail that goes around the perimeter of the resort I did not want to push too much yet so I left shortly there after.
A couple of weeks ago I carnuded out again on a Saturday and when I arrived the gate was closed and the old buzzer system was gone. There was some sort of ring doorbell set up. I was pushing a screen and nothing was happening. A nice young lady pulled in behind and punched a code in for me to open the gate. Once in, I drove to the office.
Things seemed kind of quiet for a Saturday and when I got to the office there were a couple groups of people standing around and chatting and they were all fully dressed. Some even had jackets on. It seemed a bit odd yet I didn't think too much of it as I walked nude passed them to the main building. The office was locked and the few people inside were all dressed as well. I went to the grill and asked if the office was on a break or out somewhere. The server was very nice and went to get the manager. After a few minutes standing around nude while clothed people went in and out and down by the pool, the very friendly manager came around the corner and opened the office. I was beginning to feel like in a dream when you are the only one nude. I asked about the gate situation and one of the residents let out a chuckle as she said you're not the only one. Apparently they are upgrading the tech there and there are a few bugs. You can reserve online and get a code for the gate as one way to do it.They do have wifi now as well.
After I paid my fee, I grabbed my water pack and trekking poles and walked passed another group of clothed people on my way to the northeast trail head.
There is a residential street that leads to the trail and I was greeted by a couple residents out working around their mobile homes. Everyone still putting heavy emphasis on the clothing option.
Continuing up the street I was challenged by a chihuahua behind a small fence of one of the homes. The barking continued and then I heard a woman's voice telling the dog to be quiet and then a "Well hello, how are you today?" I took my gaze of the dog and looked up to see a blond lady sunning on a lounger in her yard. Finally!! Another nude person. She was very friendly and we chatted a few minutes about the nice weather and it sure was a good day for hiking. She spoke as if we'd been friends for life. Over the years some of the most pleasant people I have met are the residents at De Anza. We wished each other a pleasant day and I pressed on to the trailhead.
I reached the northeast trailhead and decided to cover much of the same ground as the previous hike as it is a gentle easy route between the trailhead and the Temple mountain trail. At the trailhead I noticed a pair of fresh boot prints and thought well at least there was one other hiker out on this beautiful day. The other hiker had continued on ahead apparently as there were no prints once I turned right onto the perimeter Peyote trail. This is a very easy part of the trail and with the sun and slight breeze it was a wonderful stroll.
The desert has it rumors, mysteries, and downright unexplained things and the area around De Anza Springs is even more so to me. Consciousness, the unseen universe, serendipity, it all seems to surround the place.
I hiked a short bit and got to the trail to Temple peak continuing along the perimeter. At some point I decided to turn around and return they way I came since that was a fairly easy hike. There is very little elevation gain in this area yet the small rises were a bit challenging. I just need to take things slow I thought and eventually I'll get there.
On my return as I reached the original trailhead that I started on I saw the hiker whose boot prints I had seen earlier. It was an older woman hiking topless in a pair of blue jeans. She had short scraggly gray hair and was thin, tan and wrinkled with leathery skin. Her gait was that of someone pressing on and if I had to guess I would say she had an 8 in front of her age. I fell in love immediately and she became my instant lodestar. The universe presented me with a picture of resilience and ageless spirit. My doubts about hiking vanished as it is now just a matter of getting back into hiking shape. I've thought a lot about her since that day. Her grace, and determination.
The other day I got a reply from the older hiker I had messaged in the summer.He apologized for the late response, wishing me luck and hoping to see me on the trails. I thanked him and mentioned the topless woman I'd seen and how she inspired me to push on. His response was "That's my wife. She's 83." And that's kind of the way the universe works around De Anza Springs.
I highly recommend De Anza Springs for anyone interested in nude hiking. Especially high desert hiking. The geology with the hills of massive boulders surrounding the place is worth the price of admission. That and the fact no net is needed when hiking the area. Clothes can be left in the car or rental and not to be donned until leaving or not if carnuding.
The new owners have spruced up the place. There is sound healing on weekends and Love Machine music festivals a couple times a year. I think it would be a good idea for JB and DF to do a proper trip report soon.
