RE:Close Encounter

Oh it has happened a few times to me, but I pay attention to what sounds are going on. Most of the time people talk load, so I kept a sarong under my backpack belt. For those chance encounters. Worked well, but once I just had a feeling and put it on and sure enough fifty feet later a group of kids and adult males hiking toward me.
But then another time I was leaving the the slot canyon hiking area. Heres a young couple hiking towards me around a large rock. I asked if it was okay and mentioned that there was a few naked people back at the pools in the canyon. They were okay with it, but you could tell she was not used to seeing a man naked. Lol

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RE:Close Encounter

On one occasion where I thought I'd be okay by staying aware of my surroundings and throwing on my polo shirt to safely Donald Duck by the time I got seen, I failed miserably by letting my shirt get in a tangled mess over my head instead of having it efficiently drop into place.

I thought I had arranged my shirt in my hand for quick deployment but it was not so. Fortunately the oncoming party of young guys just had a good laugh over my predicament.

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RE:Close Encounter

I had a similar experience. I often take naked hikes on the trails. I carry my shorts in my hand just in case I need to cover up. A bicyclist came down the trail much faster than I expected. I struggled to get on my shorts but my foot got caught in the opening. I wound up just holding the shorts in front of me as he passed. He just smiled as he went by.

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RE:Close Encounter

The ones that just smile at your predicament have you wondering why bother, but I guess even a lame attempt at covering is an indication of not wanting to cause offence. If I just didn't worry about covering in one instance, I reckon that would be the one time the other party would take offence. Or perhaps I just worry too much.

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RE:Close Encounter

The ones that just smile at your predicament have you wondering why bother, .................. If I just didn't worry about covering in one instance, I reckon that would be the one time the other party would take offence. Or perhaps I just worry too much.

You just never know. One guy waited around the corner until I finished getting my shorts on. Then we talked for a couple of minutes. My guess is he didn't care. Another time, I came across a group of 10 or so new-age hippyish chanting with drums young adults. I got my shorts on while standing behind a tree before they saw me (I think). We talked. I don't think a naked person on the trail would have bothered them. In my other encounters - a family with rifles and a couple of BLM guys - I was glad to have gotten my shorts on.

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RE:Close Encounter

I'd be wary of any enforcement around here. It used to be more relaxed, less so now from others' accounts.

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RE:Close Encounter

The ones that just smile at your predicament have you wondering why bother, .................. If I just didn't worry about covering in one instance, I reckon that would be the one time the other party would take offence. Or perhaps I just worry too much.You just never know. One guy waited around the corner until I finished getting my shorts on. Then we talked for a couple of minutes. My guess is he didn't care. Another time, I came across a group of 10 or so new-age hippyish chanting with drums young adults. I got my shorts on while standing behind a tree before they saw me (I think). We talked. I don't think a naked person on the trail would have bothered them. In my other encounters - a family with rifles and a couple of BLM guys - I was glad to have gotten my shorts on.

We've had a few of these. The once clothing optional DeAnza Springs Resort, borders the Anza Borrego State Park here in So Cal. It is not illegal to hike nude in the park, but you can be told to cover by a ranger if there's a complaint. Many and I mean many, nudists hike naked from DSR into the state park with several trail heads leading away from the resort. Though my wife isn't a big fan of all the dirt at the resort, she did really enjoy the nude hiking. We visited a few times a year.

While on some of these hikes, we did encounter clothed hikers, but we never hid or covered. According to the regulars, residents and management of DSR, they said that most of the hikers are aware that they are near a clothing optional resort and might encounter nude people on the hiking trails. We just passed each other on those trails and smiled and waved or gave each other some greeting.

I've encountered a Nat'l Park Ranger twice while in Death Valley while I was nude. I take an annual trip out there to do some 4x4'ing with friends. They are not nudists to during our stay, I need to get away on my own and do some exploring naked. I drive my Jeep up a few canyons and get out and explore the surrounding areas. Twice, a park ranger drove up on me while out of the car and stopped. The male ranger was cordial and professional. He didn't question my nudity but rather questioned why I was alone. Made sure I had comm's with my party and had water and food.

The female ranger I encountered was more friendly and actually got out of her truck and talked with me for quite some time. She, too, was questioning me about comm's, food, water and experience in the park. She then asked if I had map of the park and I did. We looked at the map on the engine hood of my Jeep and she gave me some tips on some good hiking areas and trails to drive. She shook my hand and got in her truck and waved and smiled and drove down the trail to the main road.

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RE:Close Encounter

Visited White Sands National park a few years ago and the wife and I stopped at one of the vantage points you have to park and walk few hundred yards to, and we hiked out to it sans clothing. There was a couple that happened up on us and they didn't even bat an eye at our nudity.

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RE:Close Encounter

Love hearing of the reports where nudity is simply not a problem!

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RE:Close Encounter

Had a similar situation, but more life threatening. Was hiking in Maine the other week and a black bear with two cubs came upon the path. At the time I was about 35 yards away exploring a cabin, and was able to spot them before I came back to the trail. While waiting for them to move so I could get out of there, another hiker came down the path staring at her phone. We yelled at her about the bears and she stopped in time. The she said Thank you - she would not have seen them if she had kept going. Stupid phones.

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