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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Close enounters are common with naked hiking. This has happened to me a few times and I have learned to act naturally and not scramble for cover. These days, I freehike in areas where it it accepted (Vermont) or hike with a kilt, which is close to being naked and the same sense of freedom (New Hampshire).
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