D · Nude hiking days in Saxon Switzerland – 7 to 18 August 2017 [19 August 2017]

Also in 2017, Wolfgang and Andreas, tireless initiators of nude hikes, invited to participate in their tours in Saxon Switzerland.

► Mon 7 Aug: Hike around and on the Bielatal [08 August 2017]

The Bielatal and its surrounding sights were the aim for 24 naturists who started out on a cloudless summery day with air temperatures of up to 26°C.

Regional daily newpaper Dresdner Morgenpost had sent a photographer and a reporter to collect information about our nude hikes and to write an article for the Sunday newspaper. The two journalists accompanied us onto the Sachsenstein [en: Saxonian Stone] and to a few other viewing points. They often took the opportunity to ask clothed hikers their opinions on nude hiking.

The highlight of the day were the Herkulessäulen [en: Pillars of Hercules], which we saw were conquered by some climbers. We had long talks with some of them, but the topic of nudist climbing was (still) foreign to them.

At the end of the day we explored passages through the maze, which seemed to be a significant test of skill, before we went to either the barbecue in Albert's garden or the chanterelle dinner at a restaurant.

► Tue 8 Aug: Nude hike over the Schrammsteine to the Falkenstein [10 August 2017]

The Tuesday hike started with the ascent, and later the descent, to the Schrammsteine. Thirty one nude hikers and many other visitors were there and, consequently, there were longer waiting times for the ladders. The temperature was 21°C with quite a strong wind blowing.

It turned out that a large part of our hike was actually a step-up and ladder exercise. Conservative estimates of some climbers thought there were at least 1000 steps.

Then we went across the Gratweg to the Breitenfurt, and later to the Falkenstein, where we met other climbing groups who looked at us with curiosity, puzzlement and amusement from their lofty position.

In the meantime, the air had reached a temperature of 28°C, and on the ascent to the car park hikers could even get a sweat. For the evening, a few groups arranged for a joint dinner and a chat, which we enjoyed outdoors in the warm summer evening.

► Wed 9 Aug: Nude hiking along the Czech border [10 August 2017]

The Wednesday walk started at the car park in Hinterhermsdorf, a small town just a 20 minute walk from the Czech border. During the night it had rained, and now in the sunshine, the 21°C air temperature with humidity of 80%, the 30 participants were soon sweating.

First, the path through sunflower fields led to the viewing tower on the Weifberg. This gave a panoramic view far into the country. Then we followed the Folgenweg and the Bammelweg to the Weißbachtal, where the small stream marks the border between Germany and the Czech Republic. On this route we were accompanied by a gentleman, who had read a lot about nude walks at natury.de. But, he said, in the prevailing weather conditions it was not something for him!

Since we were denied the boat trip on the upper Kirnitzsch watergate due to our natural lack of attire, we walked on foot to the dam and then climbed the steep route to the Hermannseck. We then continued over the Königsplatz viewpoint and, after a stop (clothed) in the Buchenpark inn, walked back to the car park

► Thu 10 Aug: Nude hiking on Gohrisch and Papststein [en: The Pope's Stone] [10 August 2017]

In the night, there was a prolonged thunderstorm with very heavy rain. The temperature was almost 18°C with 99% relative humidity (almost total rain!). The moist atmosphere remained throughout the day. The drops on the display are not rain but condensing mist.

We decided to ascend the Gohrisch first. The view from the highest point showed us billions of tiny nebula droplets with a visibility of about 10 m. Nevertheless, the 24 nude hikers quite frequently met other hiking groups, which were not deterred by the weather as much as we were.

At the excursion area on the Pope's Stone most of the hiking group took the opportunity to enjoy a pot of coffee or a soup. Afterwards we went on to the Hempelhöhle, Lichterhöhle and Eishöhle before some of us went to the farm shop in Gohrisch to get more coffee and to buy a few products.

In the evening some of us had a Greek style dinner in Pirna, while others preferred Tagliatelle with ham and broccoli in cream sauce, Italian Bresaola and a selection of cheeses.

► Fri 11 Aug: Saxon newspaper reported, hiking in the rain on the Lilienstein [en: Lily Stone] [11 August 2017]

On Friday, the newspaper Sächsische Zeitung published a report on the Nude hiking in the Saxon Switzerland. The article contains a photo as to nude hiking and an interview with Wolfgang. The subjects were: "The naturists are on their way again, and what is so exciting about nude hikes is explained by an enthusiast."

The day was not really inviting for nude walking, since it began to drizzle in the morning, and the temperature was only 17°C. The group, which was smaller this time, made its way to the Lily Stone. But it did not get colder until afternoon. Then, one of our hiking eccentrics preferred to go to the thermal baths of Tuscany in Bad Schandau, in order to have a really freezing shower after his visit to the sauna.

After 16:00 a few bolts of lightning were added to the rain which was now much heavier. The rain did not cease until after 18:00.

► Sat 12 Aug: Rauenstein and Bärensteine [en: Bear Stones] [12 August 2017]

The sun was shining again, but only intermittently, and at around 16°C it was quite cool at the start of the hike. Also there were sharp gusts of wind up to 40 km/h! Overall weather conditions were quite chilly. We started from the village of Pützscha anyway, but few of the 20 naturists were in the nude. Most of the hiking group remembered old stories about the warming effect of clothing, and did not seek to be heroes!

We made an early stop in the Berggaststätte Felsrauenstein (clothed) and had hot coffee and hot soup. Afterwards, during our descent into the valley, the air temperature rose to 18°C. We reached the second pull-out point after a longer walk which included a short textile interlude.

We first climbed the Little Bear Stone and rested at its viewing platform. It was not practical to go through the narrow entrance to the Great Bear Stone because the stones were still very wet. Some of our group took advantage of the comfortable forest path and approached the climbers. We had a pleasant weather surprise towards the end of the day: around 18:00 the air temperature rose to approx 22°C.

► Sun 13 Aug: Excursion and walks in the maze of the senses [13 August 2017]

Fifteen naturists, men and women, made an excursion from the Saxon Switzerland to Kohren-Salis, in the area of Leipzig, to have a naturist day in the »Maze of Senses«. This is a facility where visitors can experiment, play and explore in an unfamiliar environment.

On our arrival in the morning there was still rain over the whole the region, so we were greeted with sparkling wine and a warm camp fire. The rain continued until lunch time when we had kettle goulash, coffee and apricot cake. Soon, a team from the MDR [MittelDeutscher Rundfunk, a German regional TV and radio station] also came in, and they took video recordings for the TV reportage series Sachsenspiegel [en: Saxony's Mirror]. When the rain had gone, the sun warmed us up during our 3 km long walk through the maze, where we tried some stations to experience ones senses.

In parallel, a second group made a climbing tour, which was not afffected by the hyetal region, which moved over Leipzig.

► Mon 14 Aug: Nude bicycle ride on the Elberadweg to the Czech Republic [14 August 2017]

The traditional cycling trip to the Czech Republic started in quite cool temperatures of less than 17°C. The cold was particularly noticeable in the shade and the strong wind. But the sun eventually appeared in the blue sky and quickly warmed the cyclists.

Of course, we could not bike through the town named Kurort Rathen without a stop at the railway crossing gate. At the exit of the village, we already announced to the mobile ice-maker our return in the afternoon. However, he did not have enough patience to wait for us: on the way back we had to do it without ice cream.

We crossed the bike path construction site (blocked for pedestrians and cyclists: “Lebensgefahr!” [en: “Danger to life!”] between Königstein and Bad Schandau during our forward run with some difficulty, but decided for our way back to cross the Elbe over Bad Schandauer Brücke [en: Bad Schandau Bridge] to continue the journey on the north bank of the Elbe. In 'önigstein, the ferry brought us back to the south side.

The rest of the trip to the Czech Republic and back went as planned. We had lunch of goulash and Bohemian dumplings and other food. At the end of the day we assembled at a restaurant in the Pirna market square and enjoyed the warm summer evening and cheerful socializing.

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► Tue 15 Aug: Nude walk between the town of Stadt Wehlen and Bastei [16 August 2017]

The 23 hikers had a sunny day with air temperatures up to 28°C. We started (initially clothed) from the parking lot in the town, which is called Stadt Wehlen. From the edge of the forest we ascended on the Schanzenweg which had picturesque viewpoints to the west and the east, and over the Elbe valley.

After a short descent to the Tümpelgrund we had a demanding climb in the Griesgrund, a steep valley formed by the fall of the river. It can be climbed in the summer and – like five other trails – leads to the to the Steinerner Tisch [en: Stony Table]. Here we had lunch and a rest from climbing.

After hiking through beautiful valleys with their greatly varied mossy stone formations, we reached the Uttewalder Tor [en: The Gate of Uttewald]. Here, a teacher of Muslim children spoke to us and asked if she could take a picture of our wandering group in order to show the Muslim children what the natural human body looks like. 16 men and 2 women presented themselves for this educationally valuable photo!

Finally we reached the Teufelsgrund [en: Devil's Ground] and explored its cave system. Even the Heringshöhle [en: Herring's Cave] gave its secrets, to some observers at least. The final attraction was the panoramic view from the Wehlen castle ruins. And here too, at the Café Eierschecke, we enjoyed ice cream and coffee before our descent to the Wehlener Marktplatz [en: Marketplace of Stadt Wehlen].

Those who were unable to hike spent a splendid summer day at Albert. In the garden they met fluttering and jumping visitors.

► Wed 16 Aug: Nude hike at the Pfaffenstein [19 August 2017]

On Wednesday we hiked from Pfaffendorf [en: Priest's Village] via the Quirl [en: Beater] to the Pfaffenstein [en: Priest's Stone]. On the way, a torrent of drinking water poured down from the sky on us.

Our mood did not become depressed: On the contrary, some of us had great fun with the old hit song "… Singin’ in the rain …" from the 1952 film with Gene Kelly.

Link: Film scene
Link: Song text
Link: Wikipedia: Gene Kelly

At lunch, we had food and drink at the Priest's Stone.

On the descent the skies opened and poured on us again. We felt like acrobats on ladders and stairs like in the middle of a wild water torrent. Some of the hiking bag covers were not waterproof, so there was a lot to dry again. Luckily, we found a restaurant with an open garage at the parking lot so that we could dry out and put on dry clothes. Others jumped nude and wet into their cars – we did not want to expect that of our driver and his car.

On the last night of our stay our landlord gave us a liquor and invited us to stay with them again very soon. The landlady, who is still lively in retirement age and happy to help students, was pleased to take some of our brochures and said that she wanted to inform her students about naturism. She also told us that she had seen a slender young woman several times driving but with no clothes on – and that in such cool weather too (!), but that others had thick jackets.

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