Naked hiking

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Naked hiking
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Naked hiking

Naked walking, or naked hiking, is a sub-set of the modern form of social nudity. For some people naked hiking may appear to be some form of energetic sport, however for most it is simply a pleasant recreational pastime, with no social agenda.

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[edit] Context

Naturism has traditionally been an activity engaged in a private space or landed club environment. Modern naturism is moving towards a public space, as well including a more active component. Although naturists have always been interested in health and fitness, indeed this was a prerequisite to many early gatherings, and most clubs have volleyball nets and table tennis tables, there has always been a slight reluctance to walk, run or cycle naked. One reason for this has been the secluded nature of the early clubs, private from prying eyes and textiles, and the limited area in which the early pioneers had to work with.

Modern naturism in nude-tolerant societies is moving out of the private enclosure and towards the arena of public nudity, where it is deemed ok to be not only naked in public, but where it is also ok to be active (from a stroll to action sports) in the nude. The point about being active is that many people appear to find static nudity acceptable, for example in the media (porn magazines or page 3 girls in newspapers), and theatre (non-moving Greek-statue-like nudity), but moving nudity, in contrast, seems to generate heated feeling.

[edit] Attention and opinion

Naked outdoor activity is a subject expounded clearly in the publications of the Nacktiv site. People simply go about their normal day to day business, or recreational activities, naked. The more naked bodies people see in a public setting the more likely they are to question the advertising and media industries' onesided linking of sex with nudity. Public active nudists go out of their way to be discreet, and are to be seen walking in remote mountain areas, through quiet forests and woods, across distant fields and scrubland, and not in densely populated areas, often not meeting anyone else at all.

In the United Kingdom, Steve Gough, known as The Naked Rambler, received much media coverage for walking naked from Land's End to John o'Groats in 2003–2004 and again in 2005–2006. He was arrested and imprisoned several times during both his walks. In both 2005 and 2006 the European Alps were crossed naked during a one week hiking (tour), there was little media coverage and no-one was arrested or troubled.

[edit] Special considerations

Although extremists might insist that naked hiking should be all-naked, and nothing but naked, as in all things one should remain practical and sensible about such activities.

Sensible footwear might mean bare feet on the beach, but wearing mountain boots in the mountains. Sunstroke or sunburn is a danger by any activity, naked or not, but naked hiking in the high mountains exposes the body to an increased level of sunshine not found at sea level, so sunscreen and a sun hat are essential items. Bugs, such as mosquitoes and midges, can be particularly troublesome, especially in sensitive areas, so use anti-bug formulas with extra care. Walking through a bunch of stinging nettles, or a field full of high thistles, can be an interesting experience (even with shorts on), naturally extra care must be taken.

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