Naked Hikers Enjoy Solstice Au Naturel

The summer solstice is upon us, but for certain enthusiasts, today bears a different name: Naked Hiking Day. “No way to explain it until you experience it,” one fan told the AP. “Traditional” hikers might feel the same upon encountering backpackers in the buff. “It’s just rude,” one Appalachian Trail official said. “People are out there hiking with their kids and families.”

Sightings along the Appalachian Trail are rare, because of the “remote territory” and the naked hikers’ own propriety. “I should not surprise folks who may take my enjoyment of nature in the wrong way,” said one enthusiast who spoke of the “joys of being a natural animal in my natural habitat.” Another pointed out a practical aspect: With no clothes on, it’s easier to spot ticks. (More summer solstice stories.)