2018-01-11

When we left off last time…

…We had taken a New Years hike in a very crowded area, split from the trail, and discovered a wonderful natural interlude. The old wrangler had mentioned that there was a waterfall that would be fun, when there were rains.

It rained! It rained well. We had had drought for months and then three weeks of monsoon deluge in July. Then, only one sprinkle until we received a proper rain in December. We just woke up to more wet blessing on Wednesday morning. Thus, here in Arizona, that suggests…no, demands an “!”.

With this moister in mind and that we both had a Thursday off together, it seemed like a fun thing to investigate the waterfall, which might be during the opportune time of catching it with a water flow. There was a drawback, however. The temperatures would be a high of 60F. In that area, the chill of the mountain air drops off, flowing down through the canyons and that was where we were headed. It could be warm enough, maybe not.

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2018-01-01

Our usual New Year’s Eve band jam blowout was cancelled. We replaced it with an evening spent visiting with friends who stopped by. Ultimately, we sat in the sweat lodge in the light of five candles with two of our friends and two of their children. We wrote what we would like to pass off for the coming new year on cards, nailed them to a log and then tossed it all into the firebox. We brought in the new year in naked with a prayer and a song of letting go.

Having been up to all hours, we start our day in a leisurely fashion. As I load up the SUV with DF, she is amazed that I am so comfortable naked. I laugh at her bundled in her robe. It is a glorious day. She then pulls off her wrap, surprised by the discovery. This is the first of January, winter, and the high will be over 75F. I have gained seven pounds during these holidays and I have a resolution to keep. It is time for a hike.

The plan for today is to head back to the foothills to another trail, near where we had been recently. The story is here:

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/11/02/sutherland-trail/

This time however, we will start at Catalina State Park, cross across to Southerland Trail, and then perhaps find our way out Baby Jesus Trail. I figured that the park will be busy, but the trail heading out to the remote Southerland Trail should be relatively less populated and it is Federal lands. Nude use would begin after we get off of the Canyon Loop Trail. Most of this is new territory for us.

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2012-08-27

We had a plan…loosely. Get up at the crack of dawn and get out to Redington Pass for sunrise, for starters. Well, the overcast clouds are out and we need rest. We are however, here at about 8:00am. We’re going to explore the rest of the Pass when we’re done here. We’ll go out to the San Pedro River on the other side of the mountains. We’ll just see how far we get.

The temps are wonderful and the clouds have gotten fun to look at. Lots of wispy alto-stratus (I hope I have that correct) that make for imagined dragons and such.

Imagined Creatures Fading Away

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2014-12-25

During winter months, it can be difficult to get out on a warm day nude. Often the outing has to be quite short. These down times can be used to explore potential hikes. I will get on the internet, or dig into literature, or both. I can work with topo maps and Google satellite images. I can plan and dream about what I have to look forward to. I also use these times to explore, cozy and naked in front of the computer. Some places may be bare of leaves, but come spring there will be cover. Visiting, I’ll know where I’ll want to return, on a more pleasant day.

On this Christmas Day, after a child’s presents and in between other festivities, there is a tradition of hiking here in Sunny Arizona. We decided to go to it, as we were already very south of town near the Santa Rita Mountains. I had been out there recently with my son, while exploring, I was scouting for free range naturist potentials and trails. I wanted to show DF what I had found and get away for a few hours.

Remember: You can click on the pictures to enlarge and produce more clarity.

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At this point, we have found a much greater sense of liberation. It comes out of the adjustment of our attitudes. We have been making a commitment at the beginning of each nude trek to stay nude throughout. We have been dropping any covering into a bag, or just using sun protectors to cushion our shoulder’s pack straps. We then are nude with no real way to cover, or quickly dress.

More strategic detail can be found here:

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/11/01/rethinking-strategies-when-encountering-others/

This action says to our “civilized” selves that we are surrendering and embracing nature as a being which is more a part of nature. We are walking as we are, accepting our bodies as they are, a vehicle to navigate and be aware of what life simply is.

As we are abandoning all defense, we become free of other’s judgements, and expectations of our bodies. We accept ourselves as others must accept us, for what these bodies are, what they look like, what they express, nothing to hide, and the honesty. We are genuinely not hiding.

We feel that our illusions are reduced to the stark simple reality of our being, which is two people out on a trail, exploring, fully experiencing the blessing of our God given humanity. We breathe, we watch ourselves move, we observe how the world around us naturally interacts with a natural form. Warmth, body temperature, the multitudes of subtle sensory experiences are endless. A stone’s shape under foot, a brush against skin, a stretch, it is all observed as it happens, as Grace in action.

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I was rummaging through photos of Christmas past, which were reminding me of the ritual of it all and the “Griswald’s Family Christmas”.

This blog is about doing more of life, free from the confines of clothing. We may have similar holiday preparation experiences with others, but we do much of it happily nude.

Those years, we decided to have Christmas at DF’s place in town. The kids would come over, we’d feast and exchange presents. After hot chocolate, we’d bundle up to walk among the holiday lights of Winterhaven, where the grass and tall mature old trees are the perfect ambiance for decoration. Tens of thousands visit there each year.

The ritual of decoration sometimes becomes a little like spring cleaning. One notices a few details.

DF cleans the stove in preparation to mess it up all over again.

We do things in a much more modest fashion than the lights of Winterhaven. DF has bought new strings of Christmas lights; tis the season to purchase them. She slips on a blouse just in case someone passes by and she stands high on a stool to stretch lights across her patio awing. She calls me over occasionally, to hold a portion, or hammer in a nail. It is at times an irritating hassle, but the trouble gives fun results.  It is so much of a fun result that we decide to leave them up all year. They are festive during parties and entertaining when we feel it during the year. In Baja Arizona, the tradition is that strings of lights just cease to be for Christmas after the holidays end and they become party lights. These white ones give a good practical light to the porch. Okay, of course, they don’t have to be taken down and put back up next year, too…or for the next backyard party.

The Arizona sun is out and temperatures are very pleasant to be in her yard naked. Still, when the dark of night comes through, the temps plummet and a warm fire place in the living room is a pleasurable solution. So, this afternoon is a good time to break out the electric chainsaw and finish off the chore of making the pile of collected mesquite scraps into shorter lengths.

Long Becomes Shorter

I love chopping, cutting and splitting wood, especially with warn sunshine on me.

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2017-10-22

I recommend reading Part I before continuing into this section of our hike. It is found here:

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/12/15/happy-valley-miller-creek-part-i/

We continue up along this trail carved out of this wondrous place.

Sometimes Water Flows

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2017-10-22

We awaken to the morning sun under the thin veil of the net tent canopy. The quilt and our own shared body heat have kept us warm through the night.

Serenity Under the Camping Quilt

Today we will make the ascent up several miles into the east side of the Rincon Mountains using the Miller Creek trail. It is a climb. That we know, but little else. We are in for a list of wonderful surprises today.

View from Camp

This is day two of our weekend trip. Here is day one:

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/10/27/happy-valley-sad-day/#more-3146

We are determined to expand our sense of self in liberation with our newer strategy when encountering others. That is exciting. We are feeling refreshed and ready.

The Newer Strategy:

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/11/01/rethinking-strategies-when-encountering-others/

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2010-05-29

We’re off to De Anza Naturist Resort again, with its miles of fascinating hiking. It is four or five hours from Tucson across the desert. There is plenty of somewhat barren land where people don’t live. The Interstate highway rolls down one hill and up the next. Each couple of miles can be seen in between. There is no place for police to hide, except over that crest of each hill, not that there are frequent patrols. These wide open spaces provide an easy carnuding experience. Leaning back, hand in hand, stretched out, one finger at the steering wheel, with good tires, there are no worries, the world is free. Occasionally, a car or truck must be passed or pass. Rarely are they paying attention to the activities next to them. If I am over taking them, exposure is at a brief moment. When parallel, most people are just looking forward watching to stay on the road.

You can refer to my Carnuding Handbook:

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2015/09/25/carnuding-handbook-on-being-realistic-and-practical/#more-485

The semi driver gets a good view. We either cover up, or let them look. They all have their stories about antics in cars that they see. That is all it is to them. Nobody is complaining; just something to talk about, more beaver seat covers, as the CB lingo has used for terminology to alert others. It is something common enough to have a term for it.

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2013-04-06

This article is an adaptation of a story that I wrote of a day that DF and I spent exploring on ten miles of Tortolita Mountain trails. It was then published in The Naturist Society’s magazine “N” this last summer. I’ve added illustrative pictures from the day for this publication.

There is much to be said of the iconic saguaro cactus and how it seems to communicate, to us. Books have been published featuring pictures of the saguaro in its many forms. The arms can take on comical configurations as they seem to imitate human characteristics. The holes where woodpeckers make their homes can become mouths and eyes with only a smidgen of imagination. With all of this variety, there are those that a stand out in their own way.

This story is about a quest for the crested saguaro. These are freaks in the vast saguaro community. It is said that these, which are identified by a crown at the top, or the end of an arm, are one in ten thousand. They can appear majestic, as if a crowned ruling monarch is presiding over the realm. When coming across one, it is compelling to have to stop and observe in fascination. It is something unique, something very special.

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