Hike Nude!

On the road to the Pass Creek Trailhead in the Cascades
A little advocacy on the run ...

Taken during a nude hike on the Pass Creek Trail June 11th,2010.  The photoJAlbum of this hike is here.

A Couple of Recent Hikes

I don't often get out as much as I used to so it felt really good to get out for a few nude hikes recently.  The photo album and commentary on those hikes is here.  I may write more about them later.

North Fork Skykomish at Trout Creek

Along the Index-Galena Road about five miles in from Index is a nice campground that used to be public but was recently posted as private property. But on the other side of Trout creek there are a few small rustic campsites that remain public property. I found the time to do a little exploring of the area this past Sunday after aborting an attempt to check up on Scenic.

The sky was overcast . . . humidity high and temps in the mid forties but I managed to spend a few hours just roaming up and down the river banks for some nude time.

Some images of this trip here: http://www.anthonians.org/forgotten_knot/North%20Fork%20Skykomish%20at%20Trout%20Creek/

Update on My CML

An email from a fellow Slugs member reminded me that I need to get out of this fugue. I don't necessarily owe it to anyone but I feel I should offer an update on my condition to my readers and let them know that I haven't abandoned my blog . . . nor nude hiking. I do apoligise to those who have emailed my over the past several weeks. I'm not ignoring you . . . just didn't have the energy for much else.

In late January and February I had to spend several visits in the hospital dealing with an enlarged spleen . . . a consequence to the Gleevec I take. Gleevec is a maintenance drug that prevents the signature CML chromosome linkage that overproduces immature white blood cells of this form of leukemia. A consequence is that my white blood count could drop substantially in the bone marrow causing the spleen to uptake the slack . . . thus enlargement and inflammation (and possibly removal). Fortunately, adjustment of my dosing has that problem under control.

The last three weeks have been spent learning pain management techniques. As this disease progresses, bone marrow is destroyed . . . sclerosed to a hard lattice within the bone that leads to a deep-felt chronic bone pain that is hard to control with OTCs. I have to live with the pain but I've learned to control the perception and at most times operate normally.

I spend quite a bit of time prone in bed when the pain is at its' worst. But I do get it under control and I have put in a few nude hikes . . . albeit short ones . . . when I could. Most of my time is spent either working the minimum number of hours a week to maintain my health insurance and working on the permits for Scenic Hot Springs.

The highlight to my season are the visits I make to the hot springs to check on conditions, kick a few trespassers out . . . and selfishly get in a nude hike of my own (despite the unseasonably cold weather we've had this spring.) Surprisingly, the cold barely affects me . . . I hiked up nude in a snowstorm last week . . . six hours nude in temperatures hovering right above freezing . . . a never felt a chill or effects of cold weather. Of course, the several hours spent soaking in 118F hot springs waters did me wonders.

More images from that hike here: http://www.anthonians.org/forgotten_knot/Late%20Spring%20Snowfall%20at%20Scenic/

9th Circuit Rules Indecent Exposure / Nudity Not a Crime of “Moral Turpitude"

An interesting read on moral turpitude and indecent exposure in the context of California's Indecent Exposure law, Penal Code 314.  The court particularly notes and holds that:

Exposing oneself in a public place is not necessarily either “lewd” (as required by § 314) or “base, vile and depraved” (as required by our traditional definition of moral turpitude). For example, as the BIA [Board of Immigration Appeal - clarified by myself] and the California courts appear to agree, a sunbather who removes all his clothes to tan on an unoccupied public beach and wakes to find himself surrounded by offended beachgoers has done nothing either lewd or depraved and thus is neither in violation of § 314 nor guilty of a morally turpitudinous act. See Smith, 497 P.2d at 810.

Similarly, the California courts have indicated that they would not uphold a § 314 conviction for urinating in public, because exposure motivated by the need to relieve oneself is not properly classified as “lewd.”

06-70219 9th Circuit Court of Appeals re: Indecent Exposure and Moral Turpitude


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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

Update: WNBR Charges Dismissed against Daniel

A form-email myself (and several others) received from the Mayor's office announcing charges have been dropped against Daniel:

"Thank you for taking the time to comment in support of Mr. Johnson. As you may know, Seattle City Attorney Peter Holmes, not the mayor, is the elected official with the discretion to charge city infractions, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors. In this case, the decision to prosecute Mr. Johnson was made last month by the previous City Attorney. You will be happy to know that after City Attorney Holmes took office and reviewed the case, the charges against Mr. Johnson were dropped as of this morning. If you have any further questions or comments about this case, feel free to contact Mr. Holmes (peter.holmes@seattle.gov) and his Criminal Division Chief, Craig Sims (craig.sims@seattle.gov).

Again, thank you for taking the time to comment.

Yours in service,

Derek Farmer
Office of Mayor Mike McGinn"

The West Seattle Blog also has coverage, noting the charges of Indecent Exposure were Dismissed with Prejudice . . . which means the case is dismissed for good reason and the plaintiff is barred from bringing an action on the same claim. That good reason?  Probably the realization that this simply did not fit the definition of indecent exposure.  Quite possibly a statement that they are not going to pursue cases like this . . . that they've got better things to do.

In any case, congrats Daniel.

Ashland, Oregon Anti-Nudity Ordinance Update

According to an update posted by Don, the Oregon NACRep,  the Ashland City Council has approved and adopted new language to replace the old ordinance on nudity:

• “It is unlawful for any person eight years or older to intentionally expose his or her genitalia while in an exterior public place. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prohibit any act protected under the circumstances by the federal or state constitution.”

The change has not been reflected on the city web pages yet.

Sauvies Island Parking Fees Go Up

ODFW has increased the parking fees for parking on Sauvies Island, including parking at Collin's Beach, the clothing-optional one.

Effective for 2010, the annual pass is $22 and a daily parking pass is $7.    Passes can still be purchased at the store as you come onto the island . . . or at the 7-Eleven south on Hwy 30 in Lindon.

I may not like the increased fees but if it helps to fully fund Deputy Weaver's replacement and continued law enforcement on the beach, I can live with it.

NAC Advisory: Black's Beach Rumor is NOT TRUE

NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE

ADVISORY

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http://www.naturistaction.org

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Copyright 2010 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.

DATE : January 8, 2010
SUBJECT: Black's Beach Rumor is NOT TRUE
TO : All naturists

Dear Naturist,

This is an advisory from the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) concerning an INCORRECT RUMOR about Black's Beach in San Diego County, California.

Torrey Pines State Park, which is often referred to, informally, as "Black's Beach," is still clothing-optional. A rumor has been circulating recently that nudity is no longer permitted at Torrey Pines State Park. THE RUMOR IS NOT TRUE.

The unfounded "news" has been circulating by word of mouth and online via e-mails, social networking sites and message board postings, under titles like: "Blacks Beach Officially No Longer a Clothing optional Beach" and "Blacks Beach is No More." THE RUMOR IS NOT TRUE.

CALIFORNIA DPR WEB SITE

The rumor seems to have arisen from a flawed reading of the Web site of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. A portion of the text on that Web site describes a 10-mile hiking trip from Scripps Pier to Torrey Pines State Beach and back. The text says: "This beach hike begins at Scripps Pier, passes along Torrey Pines City Beach, known locally as Black's Beach, once swimsuit-optional, now enforced suits-only."

The text is correct, but please note that it refers to Torrey Pines CITY BEACH, and NOT to Torrey Pines State Park. The City Beach is located south of the State Park. Despite their respective official names, both the city beach and the state beach are popularly called

"Black's Beach."

Some have asserted that the DPR Web site's reference to Black's Beach has changed recently. NAC's check of Internet archives reveals that the text at the center of the rumor has not been changed.

THE END, A DECADE AGO, OF NUDITY AT TORREY PINES CITY BEACH

After years of clothing-optional use, the City of San Diego declared in 1999 that nudity would no longer be accepted on the City portion of the beach. Lifeguards daily established the boundary between the City beach and the State beach by setting out orange traffic cones and (initially, at least) a amall sawhorse with a makeshift sign that said: "NUDITY LINE."

In 2002, City lifeguards stopped putting out the cones and the sign, because a concern had developed among some officials that the sign might be seen as endorsing or designating nudity on the other side of the line. The ban on nudity on the City Beach only, remains in effect.

Other boundary markers come and go. Reflecting the continuing official caution for avoiding inadvertent designation, some markers have simply been posts that say: "BOUNDARY" or cones that say: "LINE."

TORREY PINES STATE BEACH

Clothing-optional use remains the norm on a stretch of beach of Torrey Pines State Park about one mile in length. For details, see the Web site of Black's Beach Bares, local naturist stewards of the beach. http://blacksbeach.org

The Naturist Action Committee works closely with Black's Beach Bares, which is affiliated with The Naturist Society and publishes an informative newsletter.

THERE ARE THREATS TO TORREY PINES / BLACK'S BEACH

Despite the falsity of the recent rumor, naturists are justified in being wary of threats to the clothing-optional status of the traditional area at Torrey Pines State Park. For more than thirty years, the California Department of Parks and Recreation has managed for clothing-optional recreation through its Cahill Policy and the Harrison letter that affirmed it. However, recent DPR actions at nearby San Onofre State Beach, make it clear that DPR officials feel they can terminate the Cahill Policy without public input at any time and at any State Park unit of their choosing.

In fact, it's likely that the official heavy-handedness at San Onofre has made the untrue Black's Beach rumor easier to believe.

WATCH FOR INFORMATION FROM NAC

Watch for NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this and other important issues affecting naturists.

PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!

The Naturist Action Committee remains committed to the vigorous defense of the clothing-optional use of public land. Activism on behalf of naturists can be expensive, and NAC relies entirely on the voluntary financial support of people like YOU.

Won't you please send a generous donation to:

NAC

PO Box 132

Oshkosh, WI 54903

Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 (8AM-4PM, Central Time, weekdays) to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/

Thank you for choosing to make a difference.

Naturally,

Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee

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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis (CA) - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com

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