1st Annual Nude Campout at Scenic Hot Springs

An invitation to the naturist community and we had an informal test of the idea of an annual nude campout at Scenic Hot Springs this past weekend (7/13-14).  While not as well attended because of conflicting nudist activities, those who participated had a great time . . . enough so that this may become an annual event.

Since Scenic is private property where nudity is traditional and legal we could be nude from the moment we arrived until the moment we left and, enjoy the camping, hiking nude through the forests and clearcuts around the area, soak in the hot springs and just simply work on our tan lines.

Setting Up Camp on Friday

Our original site was changed to the clearcut dur to exccessive
winter tree-fall in the traditional area.

 At first we were going to do some serious toting of supplies to a traditional camping area under the canopy of the NW corner of the property.  Unfortunately that area had a lot of large trees toppled over the past winter and is in need of some serious clearing.  The second choice was a large, grassy flat area to the west (behind me in the picture above).  That area is closer to Scenic Creek and has seen a lot of hunter use as a campsite over the years.  While the area would have been perfect for a large grouping of tents, it also, unfortunately, was out of the way should I need to intercept and turn around any trespassers making their way up the opposing BPA road to Scenic.

We gave serious thought to backpacking our gear up to the springs and making camp there.  I can pack light but on Friday, not a one of us came prepared to hike all that heavy gear another thousand feet higher.  So we made camp  where we brought the cars in . . . at the beginning of the clearcut from the Forest Service road leading back to the gate.  True car camping and any trespassers would have to go right in front of me to gain the route to Scenic.

We got nude before even the unpacking and setup started (heck, I'd already been nude for the better part of the day leading to the camping).  Appropriate flat areas were few and our tents ended up scattered apart.  I'd arrived early and claimed the high ground of a grassy ramp leading up to a BPA tower.

Propane BBQ for the burgers (or in this case, boiling water for my coffee.)

 Dinner first.  Burgers with all the fixings . . . cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions . . . onto toasted sesame seed buns while we waited out the one remaining overnighter to arrive.  Eventually, we gave up on him and set off to hike (sans clothing, of course) up to the hot springs a mile away and a thousand feet higher on the mountainside.  Coming back down a couple of hours later, we met our wayward friend hiking completely nude up to the springs.  We could see in the distance that he had already set up his own tent.  His turn to enjoy the springs.  Later, we all met down below around the campfire we had started.  The sun was going down and evening bugs getting feisty . . . so the smoke from our fire came in handy to discourage their feeding on bare torsos.

Some Serious Camping Requirements (Smores, in other words)

An essential step to making smores.  I like my marshmallows burned
for that delicious charred taste!

Dinner done and food stuff secured prudently away from night-time inquisitive bears, it was time to stoke up that campfire up as twilight approached.  Mike was only tasked with one bring-along . . . the ingredients for smores.  And he did not disappoint us.  A few green-wood skewers prepped and sharpened . . . tips sanitized and hardened in the fire for a few seconds . . . and we were ready to try out our various techniques for making smores.  Al arriving late from a soak up at the springs joined us all nude around a welcomely-warm campfire.

If you have never tried smores in a camping situation you are definitely missing out in a time-honored tradition (not to mention a tasty treat).  So, I'm going to bore you with my technique for making smores around a campfire in the wilderness.  You need just three ingredients to make smores:

1. Graham Crackers
2. Chocolate Bars (Nestle's Milk chocolate seems to have become the de'facto standard)
3. Marshmallows (the large ones . . . not the miniatures)

You'll also need skewers to toast your marshmallows, a good campfire, and friends to enjoy this traditional past-time in the silliness of the experience.   I say silliness in a most approving way . . . camping is supposed to be an escape from stresses of rushed lives.  What better way to unwind by doing something fun and maybe a little childish . . . but that's what makes it fun and relaxing.  Especially with friends (and even strangers who quickly become friends around a shared campfire.)

The Technique (a'la Banged Up Shins):

Take a graham cracker and break in two halves.  Place a square or two of the milk chocolate in the center of one of the halves.  So far, not a radical departure.  Here's where my technique comes in.  The manufacturer's of milk chocolate have become stingy with the amount of milk fat in their products, resulting in a chocolate that doesn't melt as well as it did in the past.  The traditional way to make smores was to place the toasted marshmallow atop the chocolate and allow the heat to soften the chocolate squares beneath.  But I've had very little luck even with well-toasted and presumedly hot marshmallows having much of a softening effect on today's milk chocolates.  I remain with the hard square of chocolate instead of oozing all three ingredients together that I remember from my childhood. 

So, that graham cracker half with the chocolate on it gets placed near the fire on one of the rocks ringing the flames.  The idea is to pre-soften the chocolate but be careful as you can over-do this step and end up with a dripping mess, laughter and scalding melted chocolate burns on your naked chest and abdomen.  (Hint:  lean forward when you take your first bites of a completed smore.  The drips of melted chocolate won't hurt the forest floor.)

While the chocolate is tempering beside the fire, skewer one or two marshmallows (one is usually enough and I just pop the other one in my mouth out of haste).  Hold the marshmallows near, but not directly in the flames and slowly rotate the skewer to evenly brown and double in size the marshmallows.  Try the skewer the marshmallows dead-center as they tend to rotate lop-sided down as they heat up (ending up with only one side toasted).  

Banged Up Shins preferred version . . . when the marshmallow has doubled in size, poke real close to the coals or flame to set them afire, and then pull back, letting them burn for a few seconds.  You should have a thin, crispy-black skin develop around the gooey center.  Blow the flames out and be ready to jump aside should a cremated marshmallow decide to drop to the forest floor and any bare feet immediately in it's path.  Cremated marshmallow (which is just sugar) can produce a nasty burn on bare skin.

Eat one of the marshmallows straight from the skewer (of course, that's why you greedily stuffed two on there in the first place) and then set the other one directly atop the softened chocolate.  Top with the other half of the graham cracker, wait a few seconds for the heat of the marshmallow to do it's thing to the chocolate, and then squeeze them together until gooey stuff oozes out the sides.  Bite in and enjoy.  We did and no inadvertent burn marks to our bare skins.  I'm happy to report that, unlike frying bacon, smores can be made while nude , , , and in fact, it is the only way to make smores along with a cheerful campfire and friends to go along.

Late Night Visitors

This kind of silliness went on for some time.  Well into complete darkness (except for a cheery campfire) on a moonless night.  It was in that darkness that we heard the somewhat excited squeals of "Ouuu a campfire" and we realized that we were not alone out there in the wilderness.

A campfire anchors us in the darkness of a moonless night

 A quick glance in the direction of where the forest service road comes into the clearcut revealed a small flashlight or two flickering.  We had visitors trying to sneak into the hot springs.  Ahh well . . .  was my job to deter trespassing and part of the reason I was up there.  Headlight on and directed toward the voices approaching.  I walk down to meet them.  It's a mixed group of teenagers . . . six or seven of them . . . and they don't know what to make of the situation, especially me standing naked on the road in front of them. They looked like deer startled in headlights when I challenged and asked them what they were doing on private property.

This group I'd never seen before.  Clean and not at all mouthy like the group I kicked out a week earlier.  First response . . . "Sir, we didn't know..."  Didn't know what?  How could they miss all the signs on the way in?  They had no answer and to their credit, they did apologize and accept that they couldn't go in any further.  I actually had a rather fatherly talk with them . . . and it was only after-the-fact that I realized how completely natural I felt to have been standing there naked in front of a bunch of strangers and turning attention from that fact to what I was chastising them for in the first place.  They actually thanked me before they turned around reluctantly and left back the way they came in. 

Back at the campfire both Mike and Al said I should have at least invited them over to the campfire and a chance to save something of their evening before being sent packing.  In after-thought, I think they were right, and at least by the end of the evening we might have made a bunch of youth just a little bit more comfortable around nudity . . . heck, possibly some converts. I might have even relented and allowed them a gratis soak up at the springs . . . they had been so chagrined but apologetically polite when I dashed their original plans.


A Late Night Soak

 My fellow campers turned into their tents soon after.  However, I have never been an early-to-bed, up at first light type of person.  I restoked the campfire and make myself another pot of coffee.  It was barely midnight and I knew that if we got any more late-night trespassers attempting to sneak in . . . they would be coming between the witching hours of midnight to 2am. The night air was just a little on the chilly side but surprisingly comfy when I set my chair next to the campfire.  There I sat and sort of dozed off in complete relaxation.  So much for guard duty . . . trespassers could have walked right by me at times and I would never have known.

Absolutely unproductive time but how relaxing ...

If you don't tend a fire . . . add more wood, move coals around . . . eventually it flickers down to a useless white ash.  And a naked person sitting nearby awakes to a chill . . . me.  It is after one in the morning.  I am not ready for bed.  I have more of a restless urge to move around  . . . probably more to get the blood moving and dash the chill away.  There is also the desire to feel the freedom of moving naked through the enveloping mantle of darkness covering everything.  Hiking into total darkness . . . even with the cone of a good headlamp to light your way . . . is something akin to a challenge.  Clothing shields some of us with a debatable sense of protection from that pitch-black.  Without that clothing you truly are vulnerable to whatever may be out there . . . and particularly more so when there is nothing between your bare skin and the chill of nighttime darkness.  A challenge that is both a little unnerving at times but very sensual in the interaction of your body to the night air.

Heading down to the gate half a mile away to see if there were
trespassers who had parked and snuck past me earlier.

 I really didn't know if anyone had gotten past me earlier, so I ambled down the forest service road a half mile to where the gate blocked access to see if there were any cars down there.  There were none . . . a disappointment in a way because I would just love to catch the more despicable vandals and have them arrested.  The fact that I'm nude and not even carrying my cell phone on this particular jaunt doesn't even come to mind.  Looking for trespassers is just an excuse.

Well, heck.  Back in the clearcut and our camping area, I really don't have a reason or need to go up to the hot springs.  Nevertheless, I grab my backpack.  The least I could do is be doubly-sure . . . and maybe treat myself to a nice warm, relaxing soak.

Monster Tub:  106F in the near pool, 109F in the far one. High in lithium
and pH silky smooth.

I've already soaked once today.  This is a double-treat.  Hiking the two thirds mile up the mountainside in chill night air tightens all the pores of the skin  . . . goosebumpy.  All that is needed is the shucking of shoes and socks and it is right into toasty hot water to the neck.  Headlight turned off, stars above blazing in the gazillions . . .what could be better?  Half an hour is all I need and on the hike back down my skin wafts visible steamy warmth all the way back to my tent.  It's pack it up time . . . into the sleeping bag and a good night's sleep.


Awake at Dawn and a Morning Soak

The one thing I didn't pack and regretted was the pad for under my sleeping bag.  I slept warm but with the impression of every tiny pebble digging into my back that my site prep had failed to brush aside.  I awoke early, unable to go back to sleep.  Coffee was the first order of business in the cool and nippy morning air of dawn.  Not a sign of movement from any of the other tents.  After a quick breakfast I set out on the hike up to the springs, hiking this time with nothing more than my shoes, floopy blue hat and a small towel . . . about as free-hiking as possible (I'd be foolish to attempt that rocky path without something on my feet.

It's not very often I head out without a pack on my back.  Feels good.

Again, I meet my oversleeping companions on the way back down as they are heading up.  Someone has to meet the Saturday participants . . . mainly, Richard and Joe of the SLUGS.   Having time in the sun on my hands I check out places it's been a few years since visiting . . . the overgrown trail to the upper Scenic Falls . . . still very overgrown and unpassable without some serious clearing.

I had also promised to take a couple of them down to see the lower falls . . . a 150 foot sheer drop over a precipice . . . but that route was also overgrown.  Those ideas out of the way I again set to enjoying the sun amid people coming and going to the springs while I watched over the tents.

With my towel atop a large sunning rock

Joe and Richard arrived separately . . . Richard parking by the gate and hiking nude from there.  Joe had already headed up to the springs for a hike while I got caught up of the goings-on at the SLUGS with Richard.  Then it was Richard's turn to check out the springs.  I decided to head on down to the gate and check out the two cars Richard had said were there because i hadn't seen any trespassers attempting to get by me.  Again, I headed on down free-hiking style with just my shoes and hat.  I encountered no one and still wonder where the occupants of those cars got to.  They certainly didn't head in to Scenic.

Looking for a way down to the Lower Scenic Falls

On the way back from the gate  I decided to see if I could reverse blaze the route back down to the Lower Scenic Falls.  During the winter months this route is the easiest way up to Scenic from the Surprise Creek parking area.  However, once summer growth sets in the Devil's Club quickly takes over the entire area, making it impassable.  After only a few minutes of looking for a feasible route down, I gave up and returned to the Forest Service road and our campsites.

Everyone took their time enjoying the springs while I took care of things down below . . . most of the time working on the developing crispy red skin that I wasn't aware of developing.  I normally don't sunburn , , , my Greek heritage, I suppose.  So I had been a little arrogant about being out in the sun for two days straight without any sunscreen protection whatsoever.  But by the afternoon I could see that reddening of mild burning.  I could only hope that I hadn't overdone it . . . I didn't feel the burn . . . just the reddening of a large area of skin over most of my body with the sole exception of the thigh creases because of prolonged sitting.  A little sunscreen . . . better late than never.

Breaking camp and emptying any critters that managed to sneak their way in.

Drying out the bottom of the tent before collapsing and rolling up.

Toward five in the afternoon I broke down my campsite while still waiting on the rest of them still soaking away up at the springs.  They came down singly . . . timing just right and we did a general cleanup of the area.  After the last of my guests left I remembered the one treat we didn't manage to get around to . . .

Did you know that watermelons grew in the ice-cold stream of the Cascades?

Retrieving an ice-cold (by now) watermelon

Yeah, we had stashed a beautiful watermelon into the flow of a very cold stream to enjoy later . . . but we forgot all about it . . . until everyone had left.  Ah well . . . the treat's all mine.  I'm taking it home with me.  It's into the car, down to the gate, the heck with clothes. 

Those two cars are still there but no signs of their occupants.  I wave at Richard, who has hiked nude down to his car and is just getting around to getting dressed.  I won't bother with clothes until I get closer to Goldbar where I make a stop of pickup some Aloe Vera lotion as a preventative against deepening sunburn.  The weekend was fun.  Next time I'm going to put some more planning into it . . . get bigger participation.

Winberry Creek Nude Camping and Hike by Shirley

"This hike was better than any drug, illegal or prescribed, than I have ever experienced. No way to put into words how much I enjoyed it."    Shirley

I love Oregon. Nude camping, swimming, hot spring soaking, river beaches and hiking trails all open to nude recreation.

July 11th a Wednesday, I drove about 25 miles from my home in Springfield, Oregon to a beautiful campsite located in the Willamette National Forest. The Wineberry Creek area is one of my favorite places to recreate nude. Undeveloped campsites on the forest are FREE! My favorite campsite was not available due to fallen trees across the road. That campsite would have had me camping at the Joe Peak Trail #3482.

The campsite closest to trail #3482 and absolutely beautiful was two miles from the trailhead. This campsite would add an additional 4 miles round trip to my hike. Joes Peak hike is a strenuous 2.5 uphill hike and 5 mile round trip that I knew would be challenging for me. Total of 9 miles…I am up for it!

Arriving at my campsite around 2 pm I immediately placed a large tree branch across the entrance to let others know the site was taken. Immediately got nude and started picking up litter. I have a history of camping at this site and it was the cleanest I have every encountered. One large army style tarp on the ground and one bag of litter in the large fire pit. Not bad compared to past visits. This is an undeveloped site that is almost always in use.

Winberry Creek beside the campsite

A perfect spot for camping

The large fire pit was more than I needed so a small pit was created inside the large one. There is nothing I find more relaxing than sitting nude in front of a fire and enjoying the old growth forest noise. The river was a short distance away and I really can’t call river sounds noise. River sounds are perfect to lull me to sleep.

Usually I start a trail hike very early. Because it was a Wednesday and the upper road was closed due to the fallen trees I started the hike around 7:30 am. What a sense of freedom to go from campsite to trailhead nude. Tennis shoes and a good expensive pair of socks and I was off. Wait…massive amounts of sunscreen and a hat! No bug screen was needed as long as I kept moving the bugs seem to avoid me.

This hike was much more strenuous that I had imagined. It was an uphill switch back trail and I did not realize how steep until I was on the way down. My toes were yelping at me on the way down. You hikers know how on a steep hike the downhill is much more challenging on the toes and knees.

I took plenty of breaks taking pictures of the rock formations, flowers and eating the berries. I call them red huckleberries and others called salmon berries. I do not know flower names at all but there were so many that it felt like a treat just being able to reach out and smell them.

Red Huckleberries

Common and widespread in the Pacific Northwest is Lilium columbianum,
Columbia lily or sometimes called simply tiger lilies

The ubiquitous Foxglove

My regret was not taking more water. I took 1 quart of water. Not enough on a hot day even though the entire hike was in the shade. I was surprised by the uphill grade of the hike and the heat.

The cold Wineberry Creek (river) was a welcome to my sore toes. I placed a lawn chair in the river, got my book and soaked my feet. What a day. Not sure my feet would agree but my memory tapes are richer for this hike.

Oregon old growth forest is the best. Until you experience it you can't imagine it. The entire hike I kept thinking “use it or lose it.” Nudists get so comfortable within their comfort zones for going nude. I spent from 2 pm Wednesday until Friday clothes free and never saw one person. Now let’s suppose I would have come upon someone on the trail I would have simply said “hello, hope your hike is memorable for all the right reasons.” Of course I dream of meeting other nude hikers.

If you have been giving thought to hiking nude….just do it! Use common sense and search this blog for suggestions on how to do it appropriately.

Umpqua Hot Springs, Oregon (from Shirley)

The Rangers have got the right idea . . . if you can't deal with nudity
then don't  bother continuing in as we (the Forest Service) don't
consider it an issue.

July 6^th is not a day I would recommend to others for visiting a hot springs.  I usually save hot spring trips for the cooler winter months.   If visiting in the summer I usually arrive a day break.  Finding myself in the Umpqua Hot Springs area I could not resist. 

Most of my previous soaking trips were in the 70’s when I lived at Steamboat USFS Ranger Station.  The springs have changed drastically from those days.  I did visit in 2010 so the changes were no surprise this visit.  Arriving at the parking area around 10 am there was only one motor home and two other cars.  That was a good sign that I might be able to find room in the large area to get in a soak.

Fee continues to be $5 per car and my Federal access pass was accepted!  It was nice to see that Umpqua Hot Springs have not been contracted out to a concessionaire. 

Once at the pools two young (everyone seems young when you are approaching 62) men working hard at cleaning the pools.  One man in the large area and all were nude.  I enjoyed a nice soak and took the opportunity to take pictures.

The smaller pools

Shortly after getting pictures the place was packing out with folks.  Once back at the parking area and counting eleven vehicles I mentally added up seeing 33 people.  The number included sixteen young college age students hiking in.  They carried no towels or water bottles so I assume they would not be taking the time to remove those long hot looking skinny jeans to take a soak.  One family arriving as I was getting out of the soaking area covered the eyes of their young son who appeared to be about 5 or 6.  

Shirley soaking in the larger pool at Umpqua Hot Springs

While I was prepared to pick up litter the place was clean and I credit the two young men working so hard at cleaning the pools.

Shirley G.

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GPS GeoCoords: 43.296376,-122.364019

Driving Instructions: Umpqua Hot Springs is 64.6 miles east of Roseburg. From I-5 Exit 125 in Roseburg, head east on Garden Valley Boulevard to the junction with Highway 99 0.6 miles. Turn right and go to Highway 138/North Umpqua Highway, 0.1 miles. Turn left and head east to Toketee Lake Turn off, Toketee-Rigdon Road/Forest Road 34, 58.6 miles, between mileposts 58 and 59. Turn left and go to the turn off for Umpqua Hot Springs, Forest Road 3401/Thorn Prairie Road, 2.4 miles. Turn right and drive on gravel to the parking area on the left, 2.0 miles

Hiking Instructions: Walk over the bridge next to the parking lot and hike to the hot springs, 0.3 miles. Bear right where the trail forks, generally following the North Umpqua River upstream. The trail is steep in spots. Take caution on the rocky portions of the trail and after coming over and around the hill, bear left at fork and go up towards hot springs.         Rick

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Nude Camp Out, Sun, Hike & Soak at Scenic July 13-14th

I've reserved Scenic Hot Springs Friday afternoon through Saturday, July 15th, 2012 for the enjoyment of responsible, practicing nudists and naturists who are looking for an opportunity to enjoy being nude in the great outdoors with overnight camping from the night before, soaking in the superb hot spring waters of Scenic, nude hiking on the 40 private acres and within the National Forest surrounding Scenic, or just plain finding one of the many sunning rocks and working on your tan lines.

This opportunity is open to AANR and TNS members, members of recognized local nudist clubs and facilities, and to those who have a nudist affiliation of some sort and show themselves to be responsible practitioners of nudism.  You may camp overnight with us . . . get in some rare night-time soaking under the stars at Scenic, or you may just opt to join us on Saturday for a day in the sun.

The gate to Scenic will be opened to attendees at 5pm to allow vehicles further in for those camping overnight.  We will also arrange times to open the gate Saturday morning for those just wanting to visit during the day.  This is an RSVP event . . . all those not on the list will be turned away from Scenic during our reservation.

General Agenda

Nude Day at Scenic Hot Springs

Saturday, July 14

(with overnight camping available on Friday July 13)

Information on Scenic Hot Springs at:   ScenicHotSprings.blogspot.com

What is Scenic Hot Springs?

·    Two approximately 8 x 8, 4 feet deep man made tubs on the side of a mountain about 6 miles (south)west of Stevens Pass.  They are fed from separate natural hot spring feeds.   One is hot, the other is nice and warm, making for a very pleasant soak.  They are a truly beautiful hot springs with scenic views of the valley below.

·         The springs are on private property and we are using them with permission.  Since they are private property, nudity is perfectly legal and tolerated on the traditionally clothing-optional property.
.

·       The springs are located 6 miles west of Stevens Pass on Highway 2.  From the gate they are reached by a 1 ½ mile hike with 1,100 elevation gain.  Limited provisions will be made to open the gate to allow driving partway into the clearcut with you car, and further on up to the trailhead with a 4wd HC vehicle.  The camping area is within easy walking distance of parking in the clearcut.

·       The springs are reserved exclusively for responsible nudists and naturists with at least some affiliation with the nudist lifestyle . . . or those honestly wanting to learn about and experience the freedom of nude recreation in a safe, family-friendly, and legal environment.  Children are more than welcome with their parents.

·         You can come up anytime on Saturday or come up Friday evening and camp overnight (we will have a potluck meal and practice making smores).

·         We have use of the springs until sunset on Saturday (no Saturday overnight camping)

Access

Access is by prior invitation of those RSVPing.  If you are not on the list you will be asked to leave.

·          You can arrive anytime after 5 PM on Friday and camp overnight.  Rick the steward will have the gate open between 5-6 PM on Friday.  If you need a later entry let me know and will see what we can arrange.  Note: this is primitive camping with no facilities, so bring all that you need including tables, chairs and water.

·         You can arrive anytime on Saturday 7/14 and stay until sunset.  You can park at the gate and walk in to the springs.  (Note: the gate will be unlocked between 9 and 10 AM in order to allow you to drive part-way to the springs.  Non-4WD can travel 1/3 the way and park there.  4WD with some clearance can travel 2/3 the way to the springs.)

SSuggestions if you want to camp

We will be camping in the lower NW corner of the property in a historic and traditional camping area.  This is forest land and bears have been known to habituate the Scenic slopes, though they have not been seen this season.  Practice Bear Protocol (which means do not leave food easily accessible).

The self-imposed ban of campfires is lifted for the campsite itself.  You may build a campfire within a campfire ring as long as it is manned and controlled.

Bring your tent, camp chairs, sleeping bag, basic camping amenities.  There will be a stand-up propane BBQ with two burners available for cooking.  There will also be a supply of potable water for use.  Suggestions and contributions for a potluck cookout are welcome.

A temporary pit toilet will be constructed away from the camping area for your use.

For those who wish to go up to the springs for some nighttime soaking, don't forget a headlamp for on the trail.  Trekking pole/hiking staff and good hiking shoes are recommended.  The hike from the camping area to the springs is about 1/2 an hour.  Don't forget a towel. 

      Reservations

·         Please let  Rick at bangedupshins@gmail.com) know of your plans.  Please advise if you are coming Friday night or Saturday.  Advising approximate arrival time would be helpful.  Thanks.

·         In the small chance that we are overbooked, people will be granted access on a first come basis.

Cost

·         The Springs will be available for practicing nudists/naturists to use free of charge.  (The normal fee is $10 per person per day)

Other information

·         There is a pit toilet located at the Springs.  Depending on response, we may construct another pit latrine lower on the property.

Agreement to Conditions of Access 

·         The Springs requires all visitors to Agree to the Conditions of Access.  You can do that via the website:  scenichotsprings.blogspot.com or alternatively we will have copies to sign for you at the Springs. 

·         Some key provisions

o   Minors under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by a legally-responsible adult guardian. 

o   No children under the age of six (6) in the hot spring pools. 

o   No Fires or Campfires.

o   No Dogs or other pets, No Firearms, No Glass Containers of any kind at the springs.

Directions Directions will be provided to those attending.  (Please do not re-post directions as directions are not publicly posted to discourage trespassers)

Vlog - Online Photography & Nudism

An interesting YouTube video discussion of nudism and the posting of nude photos on the web.

Perspective in your Photos . . . Include Yourself

... or more specifically, a good reason to include yourself in your photos of all those great places you visit.

Perspective refers to the relationship of imaged objects in a photograph. This includes their relative positions and sizes and the space between them. In other words, perspective in the composition of a photograph is the way real three-dimensional objects are pictured in a photograph that has a two-dimensional plane. In photography, perspective is another illusion you use to produce photographs of quality composition. From the U.S. Navy Photography Training Course

In this image of L-Chute waterfalls on the Tye River there are
few clues to the size, scope and the majesty of these falls.

When we view landscapes with our two eyes we are experiencing the scene stereoscopically (a slightly different image seen in each eye).  We render the landscape in 3D, drawing conclusions about depth, distance and relationships from those differences..

When we take that same image with our cameras, the result is two-dimensional and our only clues to spatial relationships are drawn from the compositional perspective either intentionally or unintentionally within the image.  That is why close up images of things like the waterfalls above, often fail to convey and impact the viewer on the depth and distance of objects experienced by actually being there and seeing it with your own two eyes.

A slight shift of camera position to include foreground objects
and the photographer establishes greater depth and perspective.

In the second image I moved the camera back slightly to include a few moss-covered boulders and myself.  Since most people are 5-6 feet tall (I'm six foot even), the viewer's eyes now have information to gauge the apparent size of these waterfalls.  Instead of a flat image of a landscape, there is depth and unseen, but imagined, lines of perspective to a vanishing point along which the elements of the image establish themselves.  The image conveys a lot more information.

With an abundance of bright areas in the image, the center-weighed metering of most digital cameras would underexpose the foreground.  Use of the fill-in flash and a little post-production enhancement to reduce backlighting helps to use the gradations of lighting on my torso also as clues to perspective (i.e., I appear to stand out in the image because of the lighting).

So . . . do you now have that excuse to include yourself in the pictures of your nude adventures?

Weather Can Turn on a Dime in the Mountains

I've advised that sentiment many times to those who head up into the mountains to do any kind of outdoor activity . . . let alone nude hiking.  Weather can change drastically within minutes in mountainous terrain such as the Cascades.

Such was the case this last Saturday (June 23rd).  Though there had been plenty of warning about a storm front coming in, the early afternoon was actually very pleasant and sunny . . . perfect weather to shuck the clothes and enjoy the sunshine.  I was on a tight weekly schedule leaving Saturday as the only day I could get some necessary repairs done at Scenic Hot Springs.  The sun was out shining bright and warm . . . the building of dark nimbus clouds far off over the Everett area in our so-called, famous Convection Zone.  Yeah, there were nasty looking clouds out there to the west but above us . . . calm clear sky and lots of sunshine.  What would you do if you were starving for some nude time?  Yeah . . . shuck the clothes.  But would you be prepared if the weather did suddenly change for the worse . . . capturing you in its' grip far from safety?

It's a 45 minute hike up to the springs from where I normally park.  By the time I got onto the powerline road the winds had picked up real nasty (I estimate 50-60 mph sustained gusts coming from the west in the funnel of the clearcut).  No big deal.  The wind is to my back and I have my backpack on.  The wind is actually helping me get up the slope!

Halfway up the rain starts . . . sideways.  The sun disappears and all of a sudden dark clouds have capped the entire Skykomish River Valley . . . streaming like a banshee through the saddle of Stevens Pass.  Enough.  The temperature is dropping fast and that is a serious warning sign of severe weather coming at me soon.

Okay, it's not avant garde high fashion but it keeps the winds and rain off of me.

Into the backpack where I carry an emergency rain suit.  It's cheap, light weight, occupies little space in my pack . . . and does the job of keeping the rain off my nude body as well as diminishing the cooling effects of the gusting winds.  It even protects me from the pelting of hail that peppered the area a few minutes later . . . just before I made it to the treeline beyond the trailhead and some shelter under the evergreen canopy.  There I waited out the worst of the sudden storm. 

Thunder and lightning were soon livening up the festivities and I considered options for protecting myself should lightning strike nearby . . . hopefully not directly (the BPA Towers made better targets and should shunt ground currents away from where I was.).  Standing out here I'm reminded of a line from one of the Star Trek NG episodes where microscopic hive-collective, sulfur-based aliens refer to human beings as nothing more than an "ugly bags of mostly water" (and make that 'salty' water).  Our bodies make excellent conductors . . . far better than the air around us or the ground beneath our feet.  And with that sobering thought, I move my feet together just so as not to provide an opportune path for an errant surge of ground current up one leg and down the other from the next bolt of lightning to hit nearby.

The last thing I expected to see were people even stupider than me for hiking into this kind of weather.  At the height of the unzippering of those clouds above, here come six teenagers (four boys and two girls) turning onto the hot springs trail.  Not a one of them wore any rain gear, let alone jackets.  They were dressed in cotton teeshirts and shorts . . . some in spandex . . . all of them with wet, dripping towels draped ineffectively over their heads.  They were soaked to the bone and it was actually a pitiful sight to see.  And they were trespassing.

So I stepped out from my relatively dry position and stopped them.  Yeah, the rain suit looks ridiculous . . . especially a translucent, see-thru rain suit on a nude person.  But I was relatively warm and dry, and they . . . clothed in branded teeshirts and such, were soaking wet and miserable.  I'm sure they planned to warm up in the hot spring except they didn't know where the hot springs were and were guessing from directions someone gave them.  Unfortunately, when I challenged them and informed them they were on private property, they got mouthy and I simply turned them around to hike all the way back down the mountainside in the continuing rain.

Personally, I would have felt warmer being out completely nude in that weather rather than enduring sopping wet cotton sapping all the heat from my body.

They were clothed and miserable . . . I was, well, essentially nude and warm and dry.  Is there a moral to this recounting?  Sure is.  Don't assume.  Even a large trash bag carried in your pack would make a very effective emergency poncho if needed. Weather does turn on a dime in the mountains.  Go prepared.

P.S., I did follow them back down at a distance to make sure none of them fell into cold distress.  They were an unhappy bunch driving off . . . but at least now they were under some shelter.  And maybe a little bit wiser.

Article: EFF Legal Guide for Bloggers

An interesting read on websites with 'adult' material posted on them.  While the thrust of the full article is on commercial adult websites with explicit sexual content (porn sites), the article does address some of the concerns nudists and naturists have for posting simple, nonsexual images of themselves on their own websites . . . such as personal blogs like this one.

It is interesting the re-read the Supreme Court's landmark Miller Test for obscenity; i.e., what is obscene; as well as the lesser-known Dost Test for lascivious as it relates to community standards.

One of the elements of the Miller Test is "Community Standards", which, since any posting on the Internet reaches every jurisdiction means that the least tolerant of jurisdictions could possibly bring action based on their own interpretation of what is obscene or not (Community Standards).  The article addresses this concern as well as on-going challenges of the law.

All in all . . . I am not going to worry about some super conservative community in . . . let's say, Arkansas . . . dragging me into court all the way from the State of Washington because they consider the images in my blog obscene.

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From the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF):  https://www.eff.org/issues/bloggers/legal/adult

Can I put adult content on my blog?

Yes. The First Amendment protects your right to communicate legal adult content to the public. However, the law prohibits distribution of obscene material and child pornography. In addition, a federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 2257, currently being challenged in court, imposes record-keeping requirements on a broadly defined category of producers of sexually explicit material.

What is obscene material?

United States courts use the Miller test for determining whether speech or expression is "obscene," and therefore not protected by the First Amendment. That means it can legally be banned. 

The Miller test stems from Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973), in which the US Supreme Court held that material is obscene if each of the following factors is satisfied (emphasis is mine) :

• Whether the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest;
• Whether the work depicts/describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable law;
• Whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Most pornography depicting sexual acts or genitalia would not be considered obscene but community standards can vary widely (compare Peoria with Manhattan), and a blog can be seen in any jurisdiction.

How do you determine "community standards" on the Internet?

Under current law, the legal question of whether speech is obscene is determined partly by reference to local community standards. Federal venue rules permit an obscenity prosecution to be brought where the speech originated or where it was received. Internet speech, however, is received in every community of our nation. As a result, "the 'community standards' criterion as applied to a nationwide audience will be judged by the standards of the community most likely to be offended by the message." Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997). 

EFF is concerned that present law permits censorship of speech on the Internet under the standards of the least tolerant community, negating the values that the community standards doctrine was intended to protect -- diversity and localism in the marketplace of ideas. 

In Nitke v. Ashcroft, EFF is helping challenge the "least tolerant" standard. Barbara Nitke, a New York photographer who works with erotic subject matter, has joined with the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom to challenge the constitutionality of provisions in the Communications Decency Act that create criminal penalties for making "obscene" materials available online. In July 2005, the district court ruled that the plaintiffs had not provided sufficient evidence of harm to maintain a facial challenge to the criminal provisions, but left open the possibility of a case-by-case analysis. EFF opposes this decision because the possibility of being hauled into court in the least tolerant jurisdiction could chill protected speech throughout the Internet. There will be an appeal.

What is a "lascivious" image?

Many courts apply the so-called Dost test to determine if a given image is considered to be "lascivious" under the law. United States v. Dost, 636 F. Supp. 828, 832 (S.D. Cal. 1986), aff'd sub nom., United States v. Wiegand, 812 F.2d 1239, 1244 (9th Cir. 1987) set forth a six factor test:

• Whether the genitals or pubic area are the focal point of the image;
• Whether the setting of the image is sexually suggestive (i.e., a location generally associated with sexual activity, such as a bed);
• Whether the subject is depicted in an unnatural pose or inappropriate attire considering her age;
• Whether the subject is fully or partially clothed, or nude;
• Whether the image suggests sexual coyness or willingness to engage in sexual activity; and
• Whether the image is intended or designed to elicit a sexual response in the viewer.

This test requires a case-by-case analysis and is devoid of bright line rules.

How is the Dost Test applied in case law?

Nudity is not enough for a finding that an image is lascivious, but clothing does not mean a photo is in the clear: "a photograph of a naked girl might not be lascivious (depending on the balance of the remaining Dost factors), but a photograph of a girl in a highly sexual pose dressed in hose, garters, and a bra would certainly be found to be lascivious." United States v. Villard, 885 F.2d 117, 124 (3d Cir. 1989).

Setting is critical, but must be taken in context. For example, "while the setting of a bed, by itself, is some evidence of lasciviousness, it alone is not enough to support a finding of lasciviousness." Id. One should consider not just the bed, but how the person is posed on the bed (i.e. sleeping vs. posing seductively).

Context is also important in determining "whether the image is intended or designed to elicit a sexual response in the viewer." For example, in jury instructions approved by the Ninth Circuit, the Court asked the jurors to consider the caption of the photograph. United States v. Arvin, 900 F.2d 1385 (9th Cir. 1990).

Will the DOJ really go after my little blog for a couple of risqué photos?

Probably not. First, as discussed above, the record-keeping requirements are only for actually sexually explicit conduct?photos of you topless at Burning Man or jogging naked for Bay to Breakers are not going to trigger the law. Second, the legality of the new regulations is being challenged in court, which should discourage the DOJ from going after borderline sites.

Advice to a first-time nude hiker

I recently had some correspondence with a couple asking about getting started in nude hiking and I thought to myself that this might be a good resource to share a little more widely via this blog.

Rick,

 My wife and I would like to take our first nude hike.  We are not sure where to start.  Can you help?

Thanks

< names removed >
Gig Harbor, WA

Hi xxxxxx,

Well, I would start with the thought that once you are out in the wilderness . . . not many people really care that much about encountering a nude person hiking.  That has been my experience. However, for your first time ever hiking nude, this can be somewhat of a giant leap of confidence in yourself.  Hiking nude should not be encumbered by those sorts of worries.  So for suggestions for a first time nude hike:

Where:

1.  Try a nudist club.  Of the three in western Washington (FraternitySnoqualmie in Issaquah, LARC near Mt Vernon, and Lake Bronson near Sultan) Bronson certainly has the most forest trails completely within their property for nude hiking.  Hiking nude on the property of a nudist club is devoid of worries about encounters with clothed hikers.

Hiking the slopes overlooking the Skykomish Valley with
Maya, my German Shepard

2.  Try Scenic Hot Springs near Stevens Pass.   A short, rigerous hike with a natural hot spring to relax in afterward.  Scenic is private property and clothing-optional is traditional on the property.  Scenic requires prior permission to visit (see http://scenichotsprings.blogspot.com ).  As I am one of the stewards of Scenic, requests also come to me to visits.

I would have suggested Olympic Hot Springs but with the Elwa Dam removal, the hike is now around 11 miles to the springs.  The final two miles have frequently been done by visitors in the buff.

3.  Try any number of gated, disused Forest Service roads along the major highways through the National Forests.  These are too numerous to list but if you come to one that is gated and with limited parking and no other cars  . . . there is a good chance that beyond the gate you will have solitude and privacy to enjoy your hike.  I prefer the ones that lead onto old clearcut (beyond active logging) that gives me plenty of open air and sunshine.  Another good option is the number of coastline miles of isolated beaches around Puget Sound.  Just be sure not to trap yourself because of miscalculation of the tides.

4.  Go for an established and maintained Forest Service trail.  Some trails are just simply too  accessible and popular but there are a number that take more effort to reach the trailhead and are listed as hard to difficult (meaning you won't find too many people on them).  Choose a weekday, choose a trail with only one entry point, and note the vehicles at the trailhead to guess as to who may, or may not already be on that trail.

How:

1. Hiking nude in the wilderness does not mean that you can do away with the essential supplies (The Ten Essentials) for survival should something go wrong.  The weather may change for the ugly so you are going to have to carry something in case it starts to hail and thunder out there.  For me, that is a longish teeshirt, shorts and an emergency poncho/rainsuit in my backpack.  I wear sturdy hiking boots and my signature floppy blue hat.  No other clothing is needed, however, you should have available maps and charts of the area you are going into, sunglasses, your cell phone for an emergency, and someway to start a fire if the need arises.  I always carry a hiking staff and my camera to record my hikes.  What you bring with you is dependent of the distance and where you are going.  A short hike up a gated old logging road is not going to require that same preparation as a 15 miler to Fortune Ponds on Cady Ridge.

2.  Strip once you are beyond observation from the road that brought you to the trailhead.  I often stuff my clothes into the backpack where they are less than accessible . . . thereby forcing myself to accept any possible encounters with a grin and bare it attitude rather than a mad, guilty attempt to cover myself up.  Since I can't easily reach shorts, I don't worry about covering myself.  On more popular trails I may carry them closer and keep myself aware of my surroundings to cover up if necessary.  Once the worry about clothing is beyond your control, you will sooner enjoy the pure freedom of hiking au' natural.

3.  If that initial approach is too much, have clothing that is easy to put on.  For men, that is often just a pair of shorts or a wrap that can be put on to cover yourself quickly and without fumbling like you were guilty of something.  Make sure you can step into your shorts without falling over because the boots barely fit through.  For both men and women, consider a long teeshirt (to mid-thigh) that can be worn pulled up over the head so that, if needed, can be quickly pulled back over and down to cover oneself.  Practice doing so with the backpack on.

4.  Be aware of your surroundings.  If there was another car at the trailhead, there is probably someone else on the trail who you are going to encounter going in . . . . and once past them you are going to have the trail to yourself.  Time your hikes later so that you are going in when most people have returned . . . and coming out at a time where no one would be starting a hike inbound.  Most hikers start very early morning (too cold to hike nude anyway).  I generally start much later, aware of how many I might encounter coming back out . . . and feel pretty confident about encountering no one on my late return on the trail.

Note tracks . . . both car and bootprints.  Are puddles of water on the trail or road clear or muddied (giving evidence of someone recently going through)?  Are the bootprints inbound matched by the same prints outbound?  Note spider strands across the trail . . . encountering a lot on a probably untrod trail?  Maintain sight distance.  On trails and roads, hike the outside curve to see a greater distance around a bend . . . hike the inside to pull yourself back out of visibility.  Extend your sight distance and your hearing.  You will hear oncoming people most likely a lot sooner than you will see them.  On switchbacks, look up or down in the direction you are going to spot people on lower or

higher legs of the trail.  Since most people only look at where they are immediately going, noting the upcoming legs of a switchback gives you good advance notice of oncoming hikers.

Legality:

Can't give you advice but do note that while National Forests are U.S. Government property, the counties they are within do have jurisdiction of county ordinances.  The interpretations of indecent exposure (being nude) vary . . . with King County being liberal and Snohomish County a little bit more restrictive.  Essentially, merely being nude is not considered indecent exposure, but lewd behavior (with a sexual component) is.  Someone has to complain (and be willing to appear in court to testify) and then a deputy has to intercept you to cite you for indecent exposure.  Few deputies I know are willing to undertake a hike into the wilderness to arrest someone for indecent exposure (unless there were compelling reasons to do so).  If you do not appear a threat to anyone (particularly solo women or children), then encounters are usually quickly forgotten about . . . or tweeted later for the chuckle-factor.  Beware of anyone angrily  taking your photo with a cell phone and appearing upset during the passing encounter (especially if they are outbound) as they may be sending your nude photo to law enforcement ahead on return to the trailhead.  Of the only two negative encounters I've ever have (out of hundreds), on return I was careful to make sure I was appropriately covered when I returned to the trailhead and my car.  In neither case did anything come out of the encounters . . . no cops, no angry mob . . . nothing.  

Some National Forests do have nudity prohibitions . . . Region Six (Oregon and Washington) does not, whereas Region Four (Idaho) does.  These prohibitions are called 'orders' and any ranger station can give you an answer about whether or not such a prohibition has been posted.

National Parks (such as Olympic and Rainier) are under exclusive federal jurisdiction and nudity prohibitions are more common in the non-rugged parts of these National Parks.  Sometimes, nudity is just tolerated . . . such as the case is for Olympic Hot Springs.  Closer to where more families go . . . Park Rangers can enforce and cite for nudity if such an order has been posted.

DNR (State Dept of Natural Resources) lands have no prohibitions of nudity on their lands, though county law enforcement can cite under county ordinances if the land is within the county borders.

State Parks have an explicit prohibition against nudity within state parks, so be careful in the  assemblage areas/campgrounds of state parks.  County and municipal parks/wetlands/wilderness areas have their own rules.  The closer you get to urban areas, the more difficult you are going to find nude hiking to be.

I have found that once I am beyond a mile into the wilderness, I rarely encounter anyone, and those that I do on occasion, simply are amused or don't care.  On several occasions, those I have passed had been hiking nude themselves, except they covered up when they heard me coming.  On another occasion I convinced a couple coming up unexpectantly behind me to chat about being nude . . . and then we continued on all together on that sunny day . . . after they themselves asked if it would be okay to strip down and hike nude along with me.   They recognized that there could be no other better way to enjoy nature than to expose their complete being to the sensations all around them.

All that said, I've been hiking nude for twenty good years and only had two minor bad encounters (both scowls of disapproval).  If you are considerate of expectations of fellow hikers (is the trail a popular trek for young kids, etc.), choose a day and time when encounters are less likely . . . you are going to have a great time enjoying nature with every fiber of your being.

I hike practically every Friday and Saturday in the Cascades along Highway 2 . . . if you are up in that area, perhaps we can do a safe and comfortable hike as a group.  Let me know . . . and definitely let me know if you do your first nude hike . . . and how it came out.

Rick

Coco Goes to Heaven

I lost my beloved puppy, Coco this last Tuesday and it has hit me particularly hard.  In memory . . . and to ease my grief I'd like to share this photo album of Coco's memories and of his last moments in the clinic.  There is meditative music with the full album here.  Or you can view the album less the music here.