2011 Naked European Walking Tour

Video of day five of the 2011 Naked European Walking Tour: http://dai.ly/nKqSss

Wow, beautiful scenery. It looks like lots of fun with many smiling faces, at least until the authorities showed up. (They seemed to be understanding.) The hike seems to have grown a lot larger.

I hope PJ and I can attend next year. It will be held the first week in July: Sunday 1st July to Saturday 7th July 2012, in the Austrian Alps south of Munich. To register your interest (and to join the mailing list) simply send an email to Rich at: newt.2012@naktiv.net . PJ and I registered.

Anyone know if English only speakers get along okay?

Anyone else interested in going along with us? We’ll keep everyone informed.

Ken

PS – Why don’t we have a NAWK (Naked American Walking Tour)? It would have to be less open than the European version, but there's no reason it couldn't take place. We’d certainly attend.

PPS - A more detailed review of the planned NEWT hike can be found at http://www.naktiv.net/newt/plan-english.html

Freehiking Photos

Here are a number of photos I've collected over the past few years that help show just how wonderful freehiking can be - alone or with a group: http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/freehiking?n=0

World Freehikers Federation / Southern California Freehikers

For a number of years PJ and I helped organize the Utah Freehikers. A fun group of male and female freehikers who gathered to hike several times a month when the weather cooperated. Here are photos from a few Hiking Reports from that group (be sure to click on “show all” at the bottom of the photos):

http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/oquirrhhike

http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/valleyview08

http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/stansburyhike608

http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/wellsvillehike08

http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/sanrafael08

http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/bearlakecamp07

http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/dimondfork2

Since then, PJ and I have moved to Southern California, where we would like to start another freehiking group. As we do this, I thought it would be a good idea to create an entity that would encourage others to form groups, and where freehiking plans and reports could be shared, so I started an umbrella Organization called the World Freehikers Federation (WFF).

So, I am announcing the new Southern California Freehikers group, an affiliate of the World Freehikers Federation, and am soliciting members.

The SC Freehikers will start by creating a freehiking schedule for the year, with perhaps two hikes a month – one near our home in the Inland Empire, and one at a more distant, interesting location. As we grow we’ll plan to hike with groups from other areas. A week before each event we will email/remind all group members of the scheduled freehike, including planned location, gathering places for ride sharing, and requirements such as lunch, cover-up, and required gear.

Hike Reports, with photos, will be posted on the World Freehikers Federation egroup to encourage other groups to become/stay active. (Please join this egroup, announce your intention to form a group near you, and begin soliciting members, by going to: www.groups.google.com/group/world-freehikers.)

So, let us know if you’d like to join the Southern California Freehikers by joining The World freehikers Federation and sending us an email, and if you are too far away from us, consider starting your own group: ________________ Freehikers (fill in the blank).

See you nude in the outdoors,

Ken

Campnbare's Freehiking Advice

“Some general advice of my own on barepacking includes:

1. While hiking bare, keep a towel or pair of elastic shorts in easy reach on the outside of your pack.

2. Keep up your fluid intake. Hiking bare allows your sweat to evaporate more effectively, and since you will not have sweaty clothes as a reference, you may not realize how much liquid you have been losing to evaporation.

3. Don't buy prepackaged backpacking meals unless you have a lot of spare money you need to get rid of. These meals are convenient, but you can eat just about as well buying dry goods from your grocery store (pastas, noodle dishes, rice, etc.)

4. Assume backpacking tents are undersized. If you buy a "two man" tent, you will be quite crowded trying to fit two people inside. If you routinely camp with another person, consider a "4 man" tent.

5. Don't be afraid to barepack in the late Spring, Summer, and early Fall. Most backpackers avoid the warmer months. Barepacking gives you a warm weather advantage. Being naked, you will handle the heat the way your body was designed to. Also, there are likely to be less people out there to offend, and any hikers you do encounter will understand your wanting to hike bare.”