Is anyone else tired of the gloomy weather?
Had a beautiful nude hike yesterday in a secluded spot in the COS front range.
I too finally was able to get out for some much needed naked outdoor time.
I like to hike the county open space parks to the south of Boulder and was presented with the perfect opportunity to get out and about yesterday afternoon. It's amazing just how green the foothills are and with views from the Flat Irons to Pikes Peak, the vista was nothing short of spectacular.
The rain that has for so long seemed a curse, produced an abundance of wildflowers creating a rainbow carpet of color for my hike. Yucca's, Bluebells, Wild Iris, Indian Paint Brush, and a number of others whose names I don't know, all added prismatic hues to the verdant carpet of native grasses stretching out before me. As long as it's taken to get out, it was well worth the wait to have walked through such beauty.
Although the area is small, it's always uncrowded (perfect for a naked hike!) and if you're creative, you can make a loop of somewhere between 3-4 miles. While I always carry a day pack and normally disrobe a bit down the trail, this day I was able hike naked from portal-to-portal. It doesn't get any better than that!!
The route I like follows the canyon rim of a small creek and is lined with ponderosa pines. As I walked along the rim, I could hear Magpies calling in the trees and was afforded the opportunity to watch a pair of red tailed hawks soar the thermals in their hunt for supper. As I turned to make my way back to my starting point, my attention was drawn east to the rolling expanse of the Great Plains.
As you look east, you are greeted with a sweeping panorama of the plains sloping gently away to the Platte River valley.
The emerald vista continues as far as the eye can see and even Denver's skyline seemed to fit the peaceful view with which I was presented. As I gazed eastward, a movement caught my eye, the source of which was two elk grazing on a small rise a quarter mile distant. Although they seemed unconcerned at at my intrusion into their world, they were very much aware of my presence and I was left pondering just who was watching who. All of this in an area passed by thousands of commuters on their daily journey between Golden and Boulder. A very pleasant reminder that even in a major metropolitan area, there are areas where oasis of serene tranquility can be found.
Unfortunately, my hike was over all to soon and I found myself back at my starting point. Although I would soon be on my way back to the hectic pace that constitutes life in today's world, I paused for a last moment to absorb the beauty stretching out before me and I left with a sense of calm that only a naked hike in a such a pleasant venue will bring. I sincerely hope that, in the not too distant future, I'll be able to get out and do more hiking and with luck, some fishing and camping as well, naked of course.
One can never have too much of the simple pleasures being naked in nature will bring.