Events - Part 88

Fremont Solstice Parade 2017

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, but since it was also Father's Day, we're running this solstice post a day late.  Every year, on the summer solstice, a parade is held in Fremont, Washington.  The parade is (unofficially) led by naked bike riders and walkers.  Most of them have colorfully painted their bodies.  The naked bikers and walkers are followed by the official parade of clothed marchers and parade floats.

Today's photos are from the 2017 Fremont Solstice Parade.  Above, his painted sign says "Be Happy".  Orange you glad?

This painted sign is as pertinent today as in 2017.

Painted gold.

Half and half.

A mask of leaves.

One of a group, all with painted red gymnast costumes.

Beware of the shark.

On skates being towed behind a bike.

Tiger stripes.

A formal tuxedo.  I'd love to see him show up like that at a black tie event.

A unicyclist walking his vehicle.

We end with silver and gold holding hands.  Awww ...

Hiking - Part 88

 Venus Mine, Yukon

Hike Naked Day is celebrated each year on the summer solstice, which is June 21 this year in the Northern Hemisphere.  The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.  But since June 21 is Father's Day this year, we're going to look at Hike Naked Day one day early.

This hike was done on Hike Naked Day, 2024, by Murray Lundberg in Canada's Yukon province.  Above, Murray starts out on the trail.

Taking a break. 

The trail winds along above Tagish Lake.

Murray's goal was to reach the Venus Mine, an abandoned silver mine above the lake.  The mine is at elevation 3129 feet, a gain of 882 feet from the trailhead.

Then Murray turned around and headed back to the road.

A successful hike.  Happy Hike Naked Day!

Hiking - Part 69

Summer Solstice
Naked Hiking Day

Naked Hiking Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated on the summer solstice, which is usually June 21, but the solstice falls on June 20 in the U.S. this year.

Today we look at another hike by Jim Bornholdt, above.  A few years ago, after a cancer diagnosis, Jim decided to embrace the idea of naked hiking, which he had done a few times before.  For him, shedding his clothes was symbolic of shedding fears and negative baggage.  He calls it "forest bathing", and he relishes the freedom of going into and out of the sunshine and feeling the forest energy across his skin.

He lives in Connecticut, but he found that public nudity is legal in Vermont (as long as you don't engage in "lewd and lascivious conduct"), and Vermont has many wonderful hiking trails, so he began hiking the Vermont trails naked and publishing photos of his hikes on his blog called Baring It All in the Woods.

Jim did this hike on June 21, 2023, which was Naked Hiking Day.  The hike went along a section of the Appalachian Trail.  Above, Jim with buddies Scott and Dana at the trailhead.

Because it was Naked Hiking Day, a whole group of people accompanied Jim on the naked hike.  Above, the group in the parking lot for the trail.

This section of the Appalachian Trail is also part of Vermont's Long Trail, which runs the length of Vermont from the Massachusetts border up to the Canadian border.

The goal of this hike was to hike to Little Rock Pond, about 5 miles, and back again.

Here's part of the group of naked hikers refreshing themselves after they reached the pond.

And here's more of the group.  Happy Naked Hiking Day!

Hiking - Part 52 Hike Naked Day

Summer Solstice
Hike Naked Day

Today is the summer solstice – the longest day of the year – in the Northern Hemisphere.  It's also Hike Naked Day.  A group in Vermont does a naked hike every year on the solstice.  These photos are from their hike in 2019 on part of the Appalachian Trail.  Here we see them crossing a stream.

A couple more of them crossing the stream.

Along the trail, they passed these piles of rocks that they call the Goblin Village.

Sections of the trail were muddy because it had rained that morning.

Another stream had a little bridge across it.  The photo was captioned "Move it, pup!"

Crossing the bridge.

The trail then led along the side of Little Rock Pond.

Dan K. testing the water.

They passed several clothed hikers along the way, who all smiled when they were told it was Nude Hiking Day.  They stopped at a campground on Little Rock Pond, then turned around and hiked back.  On the way back they met the campground caretaker (above) and chatted.  Again, the nudity was no big deal.  Wouldn't it be nice if nudity was never a big deal?

Hiking - Part 36

 Summer Solstice
World Naked Hiking Day

Today, the summer solstice, is World Naked Hiking Day.  Today's photos are all from the Appalachian Trail.  The trail extends nearly 2200 miles from Georgia to Maine.

This guy met a couple of naked hikers near the Georgia/North Carolina border who asked him to take their picture.

One quarter of the entire trail, 550 miles, is in Virginia.  The trail winds past small mountain communities.  These guys are at a shooting range near the trail in Virginia.

This is a first-time Appalachian Trail hiker in northern Virginia.  Nice view!

A hiker, northbound in northern Virginia in early spring.

The same hiker running southbound for the camera.  Most through-hikers start in Georgia and end in Maine to take advantage of the gradually warming season.  Hiking the entire trail typically takes 5 to 7 months.

Hikers in Vermont, hiking naked on the summer solstice.

A hiker cooling off in Loon Lake, Maine after hiking part of the trail.

We end with a couple of hikers at Blackrock Summit, Virginia, a side trail from the Appalachian Trail within Shenandoah National Park.  One of them crows "cock-a-doodle-doo", and then we hear someone (or something) responding.

Fremont Solstice Parade - Part 2

Fremont Solstice Parade

The Fremont Solstice Parade happens today.  It's an event in Seattle that's scheduled on a weekend near the summer solstice.  The parade starts with a bike ride where most participants strip naked and paint their bodies.  Today's photos are from the 2019 parade.

Above, a bee.

An orange and a white tiger.  I presume they're together.

British Grenadier Guards.  I think that's supposed to the the Queen in front of them.

More Grenadier Guards.

Captain America seems to either have skates or a skateboard.

A unicyclist is temporarily dismounted

But then he's riding again.

Finally, we have a referee to keep order, and a Red Cross lifeguard to rescue us if the parade proves to be too much.

Hiking - Part 21

Summer Solstice 
World Naked Hiking Day

Every year, the summer solstice is also World Naked Hiking Day.  Today's photos are all from the Appalachian Trail.

It's a day to celebrate being out in nature, like Brad McCartney on the Appalachian Trail in 2020.

You can hike alone or with a group of friends, like this group that did a summer solstice hike on the Appalachian Trail in Vermont in 2012.

It's a day to enjoy the sights of nature, like Bob Ogle on McAfee Knob in Virginia in 2015.

Or this unnamed hiker on Humpback Rocks, off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.

So, just get out there, like Danny Strayer on Moose Mountain in New Hampshire in 2018.

Of course, there are always some spoilsports.  This sign was posted on the solstice in 2011 in a store in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which the Appalachian Trail passes through.  Well, that's no fun!