As to the original post here on net free and the reasons for such, I remember a day a few years ago while on vacation in the Sierras in June. The area I was in was generally deserted in early June and as long as one took normal precautions nude hiking opportunities abounded. On the weekend things got busier and as I was having such a great time I extended my stay beyond the Saturday of my departure into the following week to get a few more hikes in.
Though just off the main mountain road, I happily discovered early on in my stay that my lodgings were sufficiently secluded enough that I could come and go from my truck to the cabin and back in the nude without a problem. I left a pair of shorts and shirt in the truck just in case they were needed and other than food shopping etc I was able to enjoy a naturist vacation leaving the rest of my bag mostly unpacked.
I got a late start Saturday morning and it was almost noon by the time I left the cabin. I drove around nude for a while just enjoying the scenery. The area I stayed in was near a lake at about 5600 ft with only two main roads, one that wound its way north up to higher lakes and another that was mainly flat that headed east to other lakes and streams. It was the eastern road I found myself exploring then and with windows down I let the warm June air bath me as I drove. Think blue sky, green forests with the scent of Jeffery and sugar pine, cedar, dogwood and moss, granite boulders all alive with Stellars Jays, chipmunks, squirrels and such. Then frequently interspersed with small brooks running through green meadows with wildflowers blooming, The distant background of snow covered granite peaks in the high country above the tree line topped with an occasional thunderhead. Words can only describe so much and of course I know that I will never see a poem as lovely as a tree, so please trust me that in June on a sunny day it is a mile high paradise and the sensing of it all over my being simply enchanted me.
Being Saturday there was definitely more traffic on the road yet for the end of the first week in June the crazy crowds were still a few weeks away. I pulled over at turnouts to let the fishermen and RVs by, preferring to keep my own leisurely pace as I drove. I was in my own sensual zone, simply enjoying the scent of the air and warm sunshine and breeze yet had no idea how deeper in that zone I would be by the end of the day.
I passed a locked gate with a very small parking lot that led into a wildlife management area. The lot was empty as it always was. The trail leads to a wonderful waterfall flowing down a smooth granite face. I'd hiked it nude many times including earlier in the week so I passed it up for now seeking newer trails that may lie ahead.
I found myself on one way road that bisects a granite megalith with a rushing stream in the middle of it. The road rises a thousand feet up to a ridge where off road access to several alpine lakes can be had., The road then loops back west and intersects with the main northern lake route between the lake where I was staying near and the next one up the road twenty or so miles. as I began my ascent up the road I soon discovered that my private paradise earlier in the week was now more or less occupied by weekend campers. It was by no means packed yet every little nook and cranny that was deserted a few days prior had at least one car in it and being a one way road there were a few encounters with other vehicles where one way road etiquette was required. Though we could shake hands as we passed no one gave any inkling that they thought I may have been nude. Only a friendly smile and wave and that knowing nod of aren't we the lucky ones to be up here on such a beautiful day.
To make an already long story short. I completed the ascent of the road and ridge line traverse to the northern lake access road without really finding an area I felt comfortable for nude hiking. This mainly due to the presence of an off road riding club that seemed somewhat ubiquitous along the many dirt roads branching off from the ridge line. A couple hand made paper plate signs indicated preparations for a full moon ride and early arrivals were already out exploring. Having found the area non suitable as it were I left the area and drove south on the northern lake access road back toward where I was staying and then back on the eastern road to the wildlife management day use area. As it was always deserted I knew I could get a hike in there.
As I arrived at the parking area I was surprised to find two other cars parked by the locked gate. I thought about leaving yet this was my last chance to get a hike in so I decided to park, put my shorts on and hike clothed for a while as I might meet the occupants of the other cars on their way out and then I could hike nude later. After dressing and locking the truck I had swung my backpack forgetting to stow my keys away so I just clipped them to my walking stick and off I went.
Luckily I encountered one of the groups almost immediately. We exchanged greetings and I continued on where a few minutes later I ran into the last group on their way out. Great I thought, less than ten minutes into my hike and I can hike nude the rest of the way as soon as these folks are out of sight. They were a chatty group and wanted to talk a bit so we had a nice chat about the area and the beautiful day. As we spoke I was facing the west side of the trail and I noticed the faint line of a trail running into the woods. The trail we were on was actually an old logging road. As they left my adventurous spirit got to me as I was waiting for them to get out of sight. I decided to find out where the trail led and for the moment just kept my shorts on as I entered the trail. It turned out to be an old logging road too yet it was extremely overgrown. Only one tire track was really visible anymore.
I walked the trail in covered forest a few minutes and was completely stunned as the forest and trail opened up to the edge of one of the most beautiful hidden alpine meadows I had ever seen. I was so taken by the beauty and my innate desire to be one with nature that it was several minutes later as I followed the trail as it skirted the edge of the meadow that I realized I was barefoot and nude having stepped out of my clothes and pack leaving everything in a pile where the trail met the meadow. It was past mid-afternoon and as I gained my senses a bit I realized that no one would probably be out in this area this time of day and rather than walk the hundred or so yards to collect my clothes I left them lay there and continued exploring this new found sylvan wonderland chock full of all the things a meadow and pine forest can offer the senses. the trail carried me away from the meadow and deeper into the woods and my soul was flying along above me in the warm pine scented air the breeze rushing through the pine needles wafting around me warming every inch of me as I strode through sun and shade in these magical woods. I felt a true out of body spiritual and sensual oneness with my surroundings. Each bare foot fall on meadow grass or pine needle covered trail or sandy loam sent an electric like energy from the earth through my being and out to the sky above. Nature and her beauty can only truly begun to be felt when fully nude on a day like this. The sights the sound of birds and insects, the aroma that can actually be tasted I think and of course the warm breeze and welcoming embrace of mother nature winding around every inch of the largest organ of the body, our skin. I was completely rapt in this sensual trance as I walked through these lovely woods.
As I eventually started coming to my own senses of self again I began a slow leisurely return to the meadow and my shorts, shoes and pack. Standing there once again on the east side of the meadow I realized the trail that I had initially taken north through the meadow also went south from there. I was so enthralled upon entering the meadow I had not even noticed it. Now discovered it too had to be explored so I found a suitable place between a few boulders to stash my things and continued on exploring the south eastern rim of the meadow. I found the remains of a barbed wire fence from the old cattle grazing days there and followed it east a ways not sure exactly where it was going and I was surprised to find after a bit of walking that it dumped me out on the original trail from the parking lot a mile or so away.
I began to ponder returning to my clothes yet realized that I was much closer to my truck in the parking lot than to my clothes and it would be a bit of hiking to get back to them only to return here and why don't I just come back for them tomorrow anyway since I wanted to explore the new area more. I was not then familiar with the term no net hiking yet that is what I had been doing most of the afternoon. I was getting a bit nervous and excited as well at the thought of leaving my clothes where they were and hiking the trail back to the truck with no clothing at all. Could I avoid being seen if someone was waking up the trail? Would I see or hear them first? My initial reason for doing so was laziness at not wanting to walk all the way back to my clothes yet I was now rather nervous and at the same time exited at the thought of walking back to the parking area nude and not to mention getting into my truck right off the highway without being seen and then driving nude with no clothes to put on back to my lodgings several miles away.
I was still deep in the thrall of pure naturism yet also beginning to realize exactly what I was contemplating and I began to have doubts about the whole thing and thought I should just head back to my clothes. Then of course the carpe diem took hold of me. I had a very straight laced, buttoned down uniform job and on nice days while working all covered up I day dreamed of doffing my duds and enjoying the sun and nature. Now here I was out of the cage and free for just a bit. In another week I'd be back on the hamster wheel. Then the thought struck me that the area I was in was day use only. Supposedly anyway and it was already gone past brillig wasn't it and the chance of someone coming up the trail was remote. This was nonsense of course as daylight lasted another 4-5 hours. I guess it was becoming more like a dare and one that made me very nervous more so because I was not in my private paradise of a secret meadow, no this was an old logging road and a public trail. The temptation was getting the better of me and I really couldn't believe I was seriously thinking of walking back to the road in the nude with no clothes to put on in case of an encounter and in the past I had had some encounters barely getting dressed before being seen. The inner argument concluded with a well...just walk to the next bend in the trail while the growing consensus was don't think about it just do it.....and against my better judgement I was off.
An all consuming nervous apprehension and even regret engulfed me as I took the first few steps. It had been there before on my first attempts to be nude outdoors. Just like my first nude hike to Deep Creek hot springs I was suddenly super aware of my surroundings and listened so intently as I approached the first bend in the trail. Over the years I'd encountered many clothed as well as nude hikers on the trail to the springs and after the first few awkward encounters it was no big deal. Yet nudity was accepted there and not necessarily here.
Of course now upon reaching the first bend I prodded myself on to the next one and then of course after pausing to nervously ponder things I was on to the the next and so on. I began to feel very nude and exposed as I realized I was leaving the relative security of a private area and with every step I was heading into a more public realm that would eventually lead me to my truck and a drive back to my cabin all while nude and moving further and further away from my clothes. I considered turning back yet as nerve racking as it was there was also the excitement of a new adventure and pushing boundaries that kept me going as my common sense had by now completely abandoned me. Every step was nerve racking and I was always on the lookout for a tree or boulder to duck behind should I hear people approaching After a half mile or so I knew there was truly no turning back and I gave up on the idea and simply enjoyed the excitement as best I could.
The final approach to the parking area was a straight shot of a couple hundred yards with an open meadow on the east side and a granite slab on the west interspersed with the random pine or cedar. As I began down this final path I heard vehicles approaching and ducked up on the granite slab and stood behind a tree. Though the opening in the woods of the parking area was narrow I could see people in the cars as they passed and so surmised they could see me if they looked down the road as they passed. My nerves had calmed a bit yet now all the excitement returned as I realized the gauntlet that I'd have to walk to get to the truck.
I stayed on the granite slab listening for vehicles and when there seemed to be a pause I'd move from one tree onto the next and so one.
I eventually reached the parking area and then my truck and again the weight of my predicament struck me both nervously and excitedly. I was nude standing next to my truck with no clothes around for a few miles. As I climbed into the truck I realized I was no where out of the woods yet. Then a car from the east swung quickly into the parking lot and pulled along side of me. There were two women in it and they were conversing. The driver looked at me and I froze like a deer in the headlights. She then looked over her shoulder backed up and headed back east again. They must have forgotten something. That was a close one I thought.
It was 7 or 8 miles back to the cabin and I was feeling pretty nude and exposed as I looked around the empty truck cab. I couldn't believe I had gotten this far without turning back and by now there truly was no turning back. I started the truck and headed toward my cabin.feeling about as nude and alone in a way as I could be thinking about my clothes back in the meadow. I had no plan B if something should happen. Luckily the nude drive was uneventful and I got back to my lodging safely.
I ate in and spent the evening reading and sipping spirits until after midnight.
The following morning I took my time getting organized enjoying some coffee and my book still nude on the back deck of the small cabin. I had spent extended periods of time nude at home and resorts yet I was happily surprised at how much naturist time I was able to get in on this vacation slipping in and mostly out of the clothed world living and driving nude among them with no issues at all. I left the cabin around 10:30 a little later than I had wanted yet I had enjoyed the coffee and my book so no worries. Sunday morning was a bit more quiet than the day before and I enjoyed a nice slow drive out to the trail head. It was another beautiful morning and it was only after a few minutes of driving that I realized I could have gotten a pair of shorts from my luggage to bring along just in case. Oh well. It was more than a bit exhilarating to be out driving nude with no clothes in the truck on my way to a trail where I would have to hike nude about an hour to hopefully locate the clothes I'd left the day before. Some how I knew the parking lot would be empty even though it was a weekend and it was so as I arrived and parked.
I began hiking up the trail toward the meadow in a very relaxed and peaceful state of being one with nature. The nervousness from Saturday was gone and I just enjoyed the feeling of being nude in the beautiful woods on such a gorgeous morning. I knew no one was in front of me and I was on my way to find my clothes or not, it didn't matter it was bliss. There were no clothes nor back pack or shoes to separate me from feeling and sensing the wonders of nature. It had taken a lot of scrubbing the night before to get all the sap from walking on pine needles off my feet and I could feel the build up beginning again. No matter, the needles and meadow grass and sand felt wonderful welcoming and warm on the soles of my feet and toes. The sun on my shoulders and the rest of me was what I needed and life at work was too far away to even contemplate. I was back to experiencing pure naturism like the day before yet more aware and mindful and less enthralled. It was all so wonderful, the sun the breeze and aroma and I wanted to remember every step and I stayed in the moment as I walked.
Eventually I found my way to my shorts and things and I passed them up to continue to explore the old trail along the meadow that led into the woods. After ascending further into the woods via a series of switch backs the road doubled back and eventually joined the main trail to the waterfall and as the two trails met I had an old memory of exploring the trail a bit years ago before I discovered the waterfall and made that my main destination when hiking there. As I entered the main trail I had a few moments of apprehension as I wondered if by now anyone had gone ahead of me on the trail to the falls of if someone may be behind me. The fear of an unwanted encounter began to build again as I still had no cover up should I run into people. I wanted to visit the falls and decided to press on as I had the feeling I had the place to myself and I did. I reached the falls still walking in natural bliss and spent a while there enjoying the scenery. By mid afternoon I reluctantly returned to the meadow and my things. As I gathered them up I had the fleeting thought of just leaving them there again and returning the following day for another hike yet there were other places I wanted to explore so I slung the pack with my shorts now inside over my shoulder said good-bye to the magical meadow and hiked out. Still nude of course and carrying a net somewhere stowed away in my pack.
I've since retired and while everyday is Saturday it is not always easy to find time to get out to the desert or beach and while I am nude at least a while most days the chances to get out and hike still seem very special. A day at De Anza Springs in Jacumba is particularly enjoyable and the topic of no net hiking would probably be met with confused looks from the local residents as people who are already nude just tend to wander out into the desert for a stroll or hike with neither the thought nor care of bringing anything along save a little water.
Life's issues have kept me from having the time to post more and I hope to get to more trip reports from the last few years very soon.
Jim
