Historic Pictures from Black's Beach, California

Clara's Historic Naturist Photo Albums

Images from the past commemorating the passing of Black's Beach Granny.

My First Nude Hike of 2011-The Backtrail by Scenic Creek Falls

Entering the back trail on the way down to the lower Scenic Creek Falls

My fellow steward at Scenic Hot Springs has been keeping me up to date of the conditions up there (myself not able to visit because of cancer issues).  The other day he called to give me news on a landslide at Scenic.  The way he described the mess tempted me to attempt an impromptu visit to Scenic . . . so off I went . . . dressed against the cold.

I never did make it all the way up to the springs, dallying around the site of the slide.  The damage to the BPA road surfaces was significant as can be seen in my Scenic Hot Springs blog post, Winter Storm Damage at Scenic Hot Springs.

Coming back down I like to take the back route via the lower Scenic Creek waterfalls.  On a lark I decided to try the last mile or so nude.  So off came the clothes . . . heavy parka, fleece outers, thermal underwear.  It's been a long time since I've been able to enjoy hiking the way I like to so this was very refreshing despite the air temperatures hovering just below freezing . . . and dropping as the sun set lower.  What really surprised me was how easily my body took the cold weather.  No shivering or feelings of cold whatsoever.    I have no explanations . . . I haven't gone through any cold weather aclimization.  One note is, dressed as heavily as I was on the trek up, I did feel the chill.  Nude . . . colder out and minus all that unnecessary clothing, I felt entirely comfortable.  Makes one think . . . do we really need all those clothes, all the time to protect us from the elements.  Nude is entirely natural!

Anyway, I am now hungry for getting back out there and hiking nude.

The JAlbum Photo Album of this hike is here.

The photo album of the Winter Damage to the Scenic Hot Springs area is here.

Bagby Hot Springs (A Photo Treat): Construction of the Bagby bathhouses in 1983-86

From Mike Rysavy: A treat on the history of Bagby Hot Springs.

As some may know, Bagby has recently been threatened with being turned over to a private concessionaire as well as threats to enforce the No Nudity rules of the Forest Service.  These two issues are still under consideration with both AANR and TNS involved.  For the meantime, reports are that the Forest Service has no intention of citing bathers for mere, simple nudity at the hot springs . . . that these rules were meant for developed sites like the campgrounds.

Meanwhile, enjoy these photo albums that Mike has graciously put together and shared.

Open publication - Free publishing - More oregon

Open publication - Free publishing - More oregon

Open publication - Free publishing - More oregon

Open publication - Free publishing - More oregon


A similar treatment of the construction at Scenic Hot Springs can be found at here.

Alpen Falls (a belated posting from May of this year)

Standing on the precipice of the roaring Alpen Falls

I hear bemoanings of "There ain't nowhere to hike nude" all the time yet if you just look around, there are all sorts of opportunities to shuck the clothes and enjoy nature somewhat on it's own terms. My visit to Alpen Falls (officially known as Alpine Falls on the map, but historically known as Alpen Falls . . . a long story of ethnic controversy from the 40s) began as a visit to Scenic Hot Springs on a needed check up of conditions, and turned into a day-long foray into seeking out where this or that pullout or dirt track went . . . the upshot, Alpen Falls on the Tye River, which you can hear from the highway . . . shows on the maps . . . but I never really knew how to get to them (or, actually, never invested the time . . . always bigger or better-known fish to catch). But Alpen Falls is an absolute gem in the Cascades . . . easily accessible yet almost completely unknown and unvisited. A nude hiker's chance to really enjoy the majesty of nature.

I could have spent all day exploring around the falls but the legs wanted stretching that only a distance-hike could provide . . . and that added the third segment of my day . . . the old logging road up the side of Captain's Point. Unfortunately, our fickle weather did not cooperate and when I see storm clouds piling up against the crest of the Cascades I know it is probably not a good idea to continue in the open.

Despite spending the majority of the day nude, since I still had daylight I did some more of that exploring at the lower elevations with a trek along the Tye River to L-Chute Falls. Not as robust as Alpen, there is something vital about feeling the unimaginable roar of water . . . about accepting the fine mist of spray on your body when you stand just a little too close. What can I say . . . how can you possibly enjoy and participate with what nature is displaying if your body is shielded with water-repellent clothes? It just feels oh-so-glorious to stand there and soak (literally) it all in.

Alpen Falls

I put together a photo album of this day of enjoyment (including a couple of videos of the falls in action). Hope you enjoy them. You can access the album here:

http://www.anthonians.org/forgotten_knot/Alpen%20Falls/

New Nude Hiking JAlbums (photo albums)

Added two more JAlbums from recent nude hikes before I had to spend some time in the hospital.

• Scenic Hot Springs Stewardship (in the snow and nude), and
  
• A nude hike along a Forest Service road above Bolt Creek in the Wild Sky Wilderness