This Past Week in PacNorthWest Nudism

What the Nudist Forums Have to Say (July 22 - 28th)

Yahoo Nudism:

-Naturism vs Smoothieism . . . shaving, essentially. Why and how members get the hair off.
-Discussion about changing children poolside at public pools. Seems the prudes in New Zealand want mothers to send their little children off to same sex changing rooms by themselves rather than allow the mother to change the little tykes at poolside. Pool nazies fear perverts with camera are luking all over.

SeattleAreaPeopleWithoutClothes:
- A spirited discussion of the safety of swimming at Collins Beach on Sauvies Island in light of the recent newspaper articles on polution in the Columbia River. Consensus is that nobody has any problems.

NWNaturist:
- LARC NudieBlues scheduled for the 29th
- A round robin nude hike in the Mt Hood area
- Questions on how to shave the pubic area without getting razor burn
- Another round of questions about how to avoid chaffing of the inner thighs during nude hikes. The most common answer, apply a little vasaline . . . LOL
- A really silly proposed bylaw in a British town banning middle-aged men with shaved heads from going about topless.

RixPlace: (non-Yahoo moderated general nudism discussion forum)
- Major discussion of the merits and shortcomings of air conditioning at nudist resorts, with technical details of tonnage, humidity and temperatures in the nudist comfort range.
- Announcement of launch of Nudes in the News at http://www.bayareanaturists.org/news.html
- Link to a silly Bud commercial called Mr Nudist Colony Activity Coordinator
-News excerpt on the new suncreen product called Anthelios SX put out by L'oreal
-A great trip report of a social naturist walk in England where the Bobbies (police for us Americans) dropped by and in friendly conversation expressed interest in joining in on future walks.


ORCOBA:
-People are still wondering if Sand Island at Rooster Rock is accessible yet. Soon . . . Reports of water thigh-deep and more . . . trails very mucky
- A great trip report by Don, the NACAR for the Portland area and Collins and Rooster Rock on the TNS Western Gathering held last weekend at Laguna del Sol, near Sacremento. Next years Gathering to be at Lupin Lodge.

FreeUnderTheSun:
-Really good directions to Gunnison Beach on Sandy Hook, NJ if you ever happen to be out that way.

NWFunInTheSun:
- Lots of questions about camping at Sauvies, lots of get-togethers being arranged at Collins, announcements of upcoming events like NudieBlues at LARC, the Wreck Beach Bare Buns Run
- Discussion about the Yellow Flag program, the program of ORCOBA that attempts to put a safe and friendly presence on Collins and Rooster Rock clothing-optional beaches
-Invitations to attend clothing-optional figure drawing events in the Portland area
-A lot of discussion on the recent TNS Western Gathering which was just concluded

SLUGS: (restricted to members)
- The SLUGS are hiding out at FS tonight, watching the meteor showers.
- The SLUGS Annual Potholes Retreat was last weekend. We have yet to see a trip report . . . but I understand it was blistering hot . . . the kind of weather the presents high slug mortality rates

Myself:
- A great day spent at Collins Beach last Saturday; the tan is coming along nicely
- Lots of time spent up at Scenic HS hunting a black bear and her cub with my camera. Lots of time in the nude on those sun-soaked slopes. Article posted to the Scenic Blog here That's me in the picture sitting there with binoculars for hours just waiting for her.
- Several short 2-4 hour nude hikes in the Enchanted Wilderness area and one long nude backpack overnight to Deception Pass.
- Answered four requests for information of nudist resorts in Washington by viewers of my Clothing-Optional Interactive Map
- Playing host this weekend to Eric (SoaksData) of North American Hot Springs in discussions of Scenic and Wind River Hot Springs for his upcoming publication and website database.

Tags: Nude News, Nudism Forums & Groups, Naturism, Nudism

Barefoot Nude Hiking?

A reader asks, 'I note you wear shoes while hiking. Can you really be hiking nude if you wear shoes?'

Good question and I really do have a good answer. If it were only the beach or a short, easy stroll I could easily go totally nude and be perfectly happy. But I get into some pretty rough terrain and my feet need the support for not only endurance . . . but safety.

But, I've looked at the link the reader suggested and I am intrigued. I have a pair of AquaSocks that cost me $40 and lasted the whole of one season before they fell apart. But $70 for a pair of FiveFingers? If they're half as good at support and protection as the literature suggests I just may go in for a pair.

From the website:

FiveFingers™ is the first and only footwear to offer the exhilarating freedom of going barefoot—with the protection and surefooted grip of a Vibram® sole.

And that makes it ideal for a wide range activities you'd probably rather do barefoot—boating, kayaking, canoeing, canyoneering, coastal approach, even after-sport recovery.

FiveFingers gives you a gecko-like grip on slippery surfaces. They protect your tender feet from scorching sand and sharp rocks. FiveFingers helps to promote a more natural walking motion. They gently separate each toe, while stimulating and exercising the muscles of the feet.

Go barefoot—without leaving yourself exposed.

Dealers:

Kayak Shed,
6 Oak St,
Hood River, OR 97031 (Google Map)
phone: 541-386-4286

MEC - Vancouver Location,
130 West Broadway,
Vancouver, V5Y 1P3, Canada (Google Map)
phone: 604-872-7858

No dealers in Washington yet.

Tags: Footwear, Naturism, Nudism

Sauvie Island Visit

Went down to Sauvie Island NW of Portland on Saturday to enjoy the commadre and sunshine on my favorite nude beach in the Northwest.

It's a three hour drive but worth it for a whole day of sunshine, though for awhile it looked like the sunshine had abandoned us. Overcast and cloudy until almost 3 pm at which time the sun finally overcame the clouds and burned down on us with a vengence.

The beach was full of people trying to escape the muggy 100 deg + weather. Volleyball games, parties and bbqs going on . . . kids splashing in the water. All great fun. If you haven't yet visited Collins Beach on Sauvie Island you are missing a great opportunity to enjoy clothing-optional recreation in a no-stress, friendly and safe manner. Here's a link to a description of Collins Beach from my Interactive Google Map

Tags: clothing-optional beach, Naturism, Nudism

Bare Buns Fun Run West this Sunday at FS

Update, July 16th: Well, I ran the event as usual and shaved six minutes off of last year's time. Wish I could have gotten pictures of myself but cameras were prohibited. Maybe one will show up in the post-event web pages. I hope so.

This Bare Buns Run is one of my favorite events of the year. You meet so many fun people, young and old, nudists and non-nudists (but naked for the day). Everyone is having fun. We had a great pizza feed . . . time in the hot tubs to soaks sore muscles, and if you've never swum naked before, you are really missing something. Rick



Bare as you Dare is the byline . . . and it's great fun

Fraternity Snoqualmie hosts the first of the three official Pacific Northwest Bare Buns Fun Runs this coming Sunday.

15th Annual Bare Buns Fun Run (West)
Sunday, July 16th, 2006 11:00 A.M.
http://www.fraternitysnoqualmie.com/BBFR.html

CLOTHING OPTIONAL 5K FUN RUN & WALK

Be Brave, Be Tough, Beat the Mountain in the Buff

The Annual Bare Buns Fun West is sponsored by Fraternity Snoqualmie

Download the entry form as a PDF
http://www.fraternitysnoqualmie.com/images/bbfr2006.pdf
(2006 version)

It is a 5K (3.1 mile) Trail Run/Walk on beautiful Tiger Mountain. The challenging course runs over unpaved road, with a short section of cross country. Up hill to the turn around and back downhill. If you find the risk of sunburn challenging enough, the course is a serene walk through the forest.

I'll be there to better my time from last year.

Tags: Bare Buns Fun Run, Fraternity Snoqualmie, Naturism, Nudism

Rooster Rock well under water

MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES, © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Image from todays Seattle Times on Columbia River Pollution Woes. Taken from Crown Point above the river looking to the Gorge, what is apparent is the amount of water inudation of the clothing-optional area of Rooster Rock State Park below. Only the highest portions of Sand Island are visible above water.

I was recently asked when the water levels will be going down and I'd like to offer my response:

The water gets lower that by the beginning of August there should be an appreciable beach at the end of Buffalo Trail and you should be able to wade out to Sand Island if you are careful . . . the the water will still be bellybutton to chest high and deeper many places. The river is
higher than normal this year . . . at 17 - 19 ft (measured below Bonneville).

Water levels will steadily drop as we go into August with the mean around 15 ft and dropping to around 10 ft by the beginning of September. The water levels stay steady throughout the months of September and October before beginning the rise slowly again during November.

In general (a couple of people are working on a model for the group); when the water level (as measured at the Bonneville gage site) is:

>15 ft (beginning of August) - most of the clothing optional area and the un-vegetated areas of Sand Island are covered by water,

12-15 ft (into the middle of August)and it is possible to wade/swim out to Sand Island though little beach will be evident,

10-12 ft (last week of August) and much of the beach is becoming exposed and the trails/vegetation are drying-up. As the water level approaches 10 ft you will be able to walk to Sand Island in no more than ankle-deep water.

USGS Water Levels at Bonneville

Proctor Creek Drainage: FS 62 Logging Road

At the gated logging road prior to my July the 4th hike

July the 4th is always a bad time to hit the popular trails to hike nude. It seems the half the population of Seattle is out there so . . . time to find an alternative location, as I'm always wont to do. I'd driven the Proctor Creek Drainage that the northern segment of FS62 does through privately-held timber lands south of Goldbar, Index and Baring. Initially the area remided me more of an alien landscape with all the clearcutting that had gone on. But on subsequent forays into the area it was hard to ignore all the gated logging roads that lead off of the main road and up into some interesting-looking areas. The closer to the beginning of FS62, the older the clear-cut areas seem to be. One such logging road leads into a logged out area on the northern low flanks of Mt Persis. No activity, the gate locked and minor, unremoved blowdown on the logging road leading in. Easy pulloff to park just outside. I stripped at the car and started a hike in, determined to get an idea of how far this logging road went. The sun was out bright, a few clouds in the sky. Off I went up the logging road, soon out of sight of FS62.

Initially the road didn't seem much of anything so I became more interested in the stubble of the wide clear-cut and an interesting rock formation in the center.

An interesting rock formation. Mt Index is visible in the background

Kind of a silly thing to do when you are naked. The clear-cut was a mass of deadfall and brambles. Try as I could, I did not suceed in making much progress through that stuff and instead managed to scratch up my already bangedupshins even more. I headed back to the logging road. Once back it was an easy amble in the full sunlight.

The road curved toward the east and then again to the south, starting a stiff grade. Now I was viewing the clearcut from the far side. The higher I hiked and more expansive the views of both the north and south forks of the Skykomish River to the north. Looking through my binoculars I could make out people enjoying a walk along the sandbars of the river, and a few white-water rafters making their way down the river from Index.

The combined Skykomish River west of Index. You can just make out several rafts and kayaks in the river

I was about this time that the first drops started falling and the sun became occluded by fast moving thunderclouds. Well, I'd made it about two miles and yet the road continued on. Looking up at Mt Persis (and Mt Index just behind it) the road obviously continued far up those slopes into some forbidding terrain.

Fast-moving thuderclouds appearing over Mt Index

Unfortunately, the winds were picking up and the thunderclaps ominously close and loud. I started a slow amble back to my car, taking my time. This road was worthy of a longer hike in the future. I made it back to the car well before the downpour let loose.

Taking my time getting dressed by the side of FS 62 after my thoroughly enjoyable hike

Tags: nude hike, Naturism, Nudism

Nude Hike: Pass Creek/Dishpan Gap (almost)

Found an easier way into Dishpan Gap rather than the Quartz Creek/Cadet Trail ridge route from last year. This route takes a slowly ascending trail along the headwaters of the North Fork of the Skykomish River before doing the final steep climb to the 'gap' from the east side. The route intersects the Pass Creek Trail which is an interesting climb to a far segment of the West Cady Ridge trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, itself. At eight miles to Dishpan Gap (plus two miles for the undrivable and abandoned jeep trail from the Quartz Creek Trailhead) this shaves four miles off the one way trip and makes the 'gap' attainable in one day without the need for camping overnight . . . a long day but doable.



Eventually you get high enough to enjoy panoramic views of the North Fork of the Skykomish.



I reach my decision point well short of Dishpan and linger before turning back becuase I have no relish for hiking nude in the dark in the deep back woods. The days have been filled with many short, spur-of-the-moment hikes. Like many, this one awaits the time and opportunity to hike to completion . . . perhaps make it an extended trip.

Tags: Nude Hike, Naturism, Nudism

This is not what naturism (or sportsmanship) is all about

We recently had a lively debate about the carrying of firearms in National Forests and Wilderness Areas. Most people responded as to why anyone would want to carry a firearm on a nude hike and it seems stupid to me, though there are some who claim that nude hiking is still hiking.

In any case, I don't like guns . . . haven't since Vietnam. To me,hiking nude is all about getting back in touch with the beauty and serenity of nature. Guns have little to do with that sort of communing!

But, the picture. I was driving back from spending the whole day nude in the forest. Really feeling good when I saw the bear, paws to the sky. And I felt sick. Just dumped there off the side of the road. There were several bullet holes in the carcass and I ask myself (for the benefit of us humankind) 'what kind of a**hole really needs to treat another living creature like this?'

Tags: black bear, firearms, Naturism, Nudism

Nude Hike: Johnson Ridge

On the top of Johnson Ridge, 4,400ft, snow-capped

Johnson Ridge runs west to east on the northwest side of Stevens. It's quite a drive up to the trailhead and I'd driven up there once before earlier in the year with the idea of doing an exposed ridge hike. I was stopped early last time by the amount of snow drifts still on the lower trails. This time the snow didn't become much of a problem until I was on top of the peak at around 4,400 ft. At that elevation the views are great but better yet . . . lots of sun feeling wonderful on my skin. Temperatures were in the mid 60s, so it was a comfortable hike.

Two other cars were at the trailhead when I began so I had some thoughts abouts hiking nude. The trail is not a popular one because of the difficulty rating. Once I saw the snow on top I also figured whomever was on the trail was quite a distance off. I stayed nude.



I spent hours on the snow trail on top . . . heading towards an alpine lake approx four miles futher along the ridge. Weather can change in an instant in the Cascades and when you're on the top of a mountain with few tall trees hedging in around you . . . you feel awfully vulnerable when dark thunder clouds begin forming over your head. You get downright nervous with the rumbling echos of thunder moving closer.

That's when I unexpectantly met three hikers doing the quick hustle off the moutaintop. I seem to have caught them by surprise . . . not so much because I was nude, but because they were dressed in full winter gear and I was naked in the snow! It was actually a fun encounter. Nothing was said about my nudity, just about conditions further up and thoughts on the thunderstorm definitely approaching our position. The female seemed to be the most nonchalant about the whole thing.

Anyway, I continued inbound thinking about those clouds. Lightening was limited to intercloud flashes. It started to rain. That was my clue. I turned around to start the three mile hike out . . . most of it along very exposed ridgeline and mountaintop.

The rest of the hike was uneventful. The clouds dissipitated without the threatened downpour and the sun came out again. I found myself exploring several logging roads running around the otherside of the ridge before finally heading back to my car.

NAC Alert: California: American River

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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT

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http://www.naturistaction.org

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Copyright 2005 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 : June 10, 2006
SUBJECT: California: American River
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens

Dear Naturist,

This is an Action Alert from the Naturist Action Committee concerning an important situation in the state of California.

NAC has learned of a plan by California Park managers to force an abrupt end to traditional clothing-optional use along a portion of the American River near Auburn, California. NAC is asking for your immediate action in the form of:

1) your letters to key California Parks personnel, and
2) your attendance at an important public workshop on June 15.


WHAT'S THE SPECIFIC THREAT?

Rangers from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation have indicated that nudity will no longer be permitted on the river near Auburn, and that signs banning nudity will be posted in the area on or about August 1, 2006.


HISTORY AND DISCUSSION

Skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing are a decades-old tradition on the American River. The clothing-optional sites most directly affected by the proposed action are located northeast of the town of Auburn, below the confluence of the North and Middle branches of the River and above the site of the indefinitely delayed Auburn Dam on the American River.

THE DAM The dam plays a key role in this situation. As designed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the enormous 685-foot high structure would be the largest concrete dam of its kind, larger than Hoover Dam. The water it would impound would inundate more than 35,000 acres. Congress authorized the dam in 1965, and preliminary site preparation began in 1967. That included construction of a diversion tunnel to take the river's water around the dam site. River rafters were forced to remove their craft at the Highway 49 bridge, near the confluence of the river branches, more than 3 miles upstream from the dam site.

Excavation of the dam foundation began in 1974. In 1975, however, an earthquake of magnitude 5.7 struck just 45 miles away. Geologists determined that the quake involved the same fault system that runs under the dam site. Engineers who designed the dam admitted that it had not been designed to withstand such a quake. The authorization for the project remained, but funding for the dam was withdrawn and construction was stopped.

The dam project remains in limbo. The American River area it would affect remains funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, and under a 1977 contract, it has been operated by California State Parks as the Auburn State Recreation Area (SRA). Meanwhile, since 1977, generations of Californians and others have continued the tradition of nude recreation along the river.

THE LAW Section 314.1 of State Penal Code is the portion of general state law used to charge indecent exposure, but California courts have said that absent any lewd content, benign nudity like skinny-dipping is not prohibited under 314.1. Title 14, Section 4322 of the California Administrative Code bans nudity in State Park units. However, well established State Parks policy and court decisions have limited restrictions on nudity in traditional areas of clothing-optional use, and Section 4322 itself allows for the creation of areas within state parks to be set aside officially for clothing-optional use. Historically, California Parks personnel have not hassled people for mere nudity along the American River, unless a specific complaint has forced them to respond.

Despite a recent effort to force resumption of the dam construction, there has been even great pressure to plug the bypass tunnel and return the river to its channel. California Parks and the Bureau of Reclamation will initiate exactly that action this year, and with input from the public, the agencies will be developing a joint General Management Plan for moving forward.

THE PROBLEM Auburn SRA Superintendent Jay Galloway has determined that the return of rafters to section of the river below the Highway 49 bridge and above the old dam site means that the skinny-dippers must go. He intends to post signage banning nudity in the traditional clothing-optional areas and will instruct rangers to begin arresting those who do not comply.

Superintendent Galloway has declared that since naturists are "breaking the law," they will not be considered stakeholders in the development of the General Management Plan, and their attempts at participation and input will be ignored.


WHAT IS NAC DOING?

The Naturist Action Committee has let Superintendent Galloway and California Parks know very clearly that naturists will NOT be ignored. The contemplated prohibition against nude recreation at traditional clothing-optional sites in the Auburn State Recreation Area violates established California Parks policy (the Cahill Policy).

NAC has also informed Superintendent Galloway and California Parks that the proposed action contravenes established state case law (California v. Bost), which addressed a case in Placer County, the very county in which the traditional clothing-optional sites on the American River are located.


WHAT IS NAC ASKING YOU TO DO?

The Naturist Action Committee is asking you to do TWO things:

1) Write immediately to the California Parks officials responsible for the Auburn State Recreation Area.

2) Attend an important public workshop on June 15 to establish parameters for a General Plan/Resource Management Plan for the Auburn State Recreation Area (SRA). The Plan is to be developed and released jointly by California Parks and the Bureau of Reclamation.

IMPORTANT: The hearing is scheduled for JUNE 15, so it's necessary for you to take action quickly.


WHO SHOULD WRITE

NAC is asking ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to write, regardless of your residence. The area at issue is U.S. public land being administered as a California public park. This is a matter that affects us all.


WHOM TO CONTACT

In this instance, phone calls and e-mails are likely to be ineffective, since they can easily go unreported. Please write to ALL THREE of the following key individuals.

Scott Nakaji
Gold Fields District Superintendent
California State Parks
7806 Folsom Auburn Road
Folsom, CA 95630

Jay Galloway
Auburn Sector Superintendent
California State Parks
501 El Dorado
Auburn, CA 95604

Jim Micheaels
Project Manager
California State Parks
Gold Fields District
7806 Folsom-Auburn Road
Folsom, CA 95630


Key points to remember when writing:

1. Identify yourself. Anonymous correspondence is generally disregarded. If you are a California resident, please say so prominently.

2. Be brief and polite.

3. Say clearly and specifically that you OPPOSE any move to ban skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing on the American River.

4. Say clearly and specifically that you OPPOSE the attempt to remove skinny-dippers and nude sunbathers from the public discussion.


WHAT ELSE TO SAY?

Here are some additional points to consider:

1. Clothing-optional use at traditional sites on the river is an environmentally friendly, low impact use of the resource.

2. Naturists are responsible stewards of public lands.

3. Skinny-dippers are not lawbreakers under the conditions present in the Auburn SRA. California law does not criminalize mere nudity in the absence of lewd behavior. The California Administrative Code, California Parks policy and the rulings of California courts have established specific accommodations for clothing-optional recreation in traditional areas like those in the Auburn SRA along the American River.

4. User conflicts, if any, are best resolved by informational signage and user group cooperation, not by the arbitrary elimination of one group of users.

5. Successful models and precedents already exist for accommodation of clothing-optional recreation as part of a diverse array of uses in other California Parks units, viz., Torrey Pines (Black's Beach), San Onofre, Grey Whale Cove.


VERY IMPORTANT: ATTEND THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP

Date : June 15, 2006
Time : 6 ­ 9 pm
Location: Canyon View Community Center
471 Maidu Drive
Auburn, CA 95603

This is one of only three public workshops planned during the preparation of a General Management Plan for the Auburn State Recreational Area. Of the three workshops, this is the most important because it will establish the key issues, opportunities and constraints for the entire Plan. It is crucial that naturists and their interests are NOT ignored in this public process.

Even if you do not intend to speak at the Public Workshop, your presence is important as support for those who will be speaking on behalf of naturists.

IF YOU SPEAK AT THE WORKSHOP It's perfectly natural that you should be outraged at attempts to exclude naturists from public lands, and even from the process that plans the future of the resource! Nevertheless, if you speak at the workshop, you must avoid making personal attacks, even though it's hard not take the entire matter personally. If you like, you may make use of the points offered above for those who will be writing.


MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.


http://www.naturistaction.org

Select "Alerts" and find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.


PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!

The Naturist Action Committee is a volunteer nonprofit organization that exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you. To donate to NAC, use the address below

NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903

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

Thank you for choosing to make a difference.

Naturally,

R. Allen Baylis
Don Stanton
Board Members
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 - rab@baylislaw.com
Board Member Don Stanton - dfs1@comcast.net
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
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