Western NC naked hike

Last weekend I was able to do a 6 mile hike naked AND barefoot. I only decided to try for this on a Friday afternoon so Friday night I quickly readied my daypack and what I would carry. Went to bed early to be ready for an early morning start.

Early Saturday morning I got in my car and quickly pulled my clothes off. My goal was to be as naked as possible for this excursion. It was a 2.5 hour drive to the trailhead. I only put on shorts once for a quick fuel stop. I arrived at the trailhead driving naked. Since I was going into a wilderness area and before I lost cell phone service I sent a I.C.E. message (In Case of Emergency) to two or my bestie hiking buddies. I told them where I was hiking solo from and when they should expect to hear back from me. This is serious business.

I was hoping nobody else would be there. As I turned off the paved road I drove 5 miles down the deeply rutted dirt and sometimes graveled country road through the national forest lands. At the end is space for a couple cars to park and primitive campsites on either side of the road. Ive camped here many times before but today was to be an out and back day hike. If there were no cars at the end of the road I knew I would be good to go. The other end of this remote trail is water access from lakeside so it was doubtful I would see anyone. I have paddled my kayak in and taken the trail from the other end in the past. I knew it highly unlikely anyone would be doing that on this cooler yet sunny spring day.

I was excited as I came around the last curve in the road and saw no cars at all! The temperature was in the mid 60s as I got out of the car a little after 11 am. Perfect! I grabbed my pack and my trek poles and set out to cross the creek to the trail. I had clipped my Earth Runners sandals to my daypack and shoved my running shorts inside. Just in case. As I walked naked and barefoot across the double logs that spanned the creek to the trail I got even more excited about my naked hike. It was nothing short of a thrilling moment!

The trail zig zags around the mountain and crosses the creek no less than 4 times. At the first water crossing I startled a small black bear that quickly scampered up the side of the mountain. I kept going and at the end of my trek I was rewarded with a spectacular view of a huge waterfall. I hung out there for a little bit took some pictures and then headed back.

The trip back was harder. The trip down was mostly a descent into a valley. More uphill going back and I was thankful for the trek poles as I climbed back up. As I arrived back at my car 4.5 hours from starting it was still a deserted area other than my own car. I was tired but I felt SO high. My feet felt AMAZING. I had been prepared to camp overnight but I felt like I had got what I came for so I was heading back home on such a high note.

When I got back home I had realized I had a couple small splinters in the bottom of my right foot. No big deal. I pulled them out easily. This aint my first rodeo and my wide paws are pretty tough from years of being barefoot. Other than that no damage done.

Today, and a week later all I have to do is look back at the pictures I made on this excursion. Its definitely one for the books and one Im unlikely to forget. Its a day that has been indelibly burned into my memories. What great memories. This is the stuff that keeps me going during the more difficult times in this life. Cant wait to do it again. Lets goooooo!

[Not saying exactly where this is special place is but if you are interested and familiar with the western NC area message me privately.]

• Flag
• Edit
• Delete
• Quote
• Reply