Roberto reports about a day of nude hiking in Austria and a relaxed encounter with police.
22 international participants of NEWT (Naked European Walking Tour) drove by car from their shared accommodation, an old farmhouse in Pongau, a region of the Salzburger Land, on Sunday, 10 July 2016, to the starting point of their first joint mountain hike in the buff to Weng-Goldegg. The cars neatly lined up, they parked there their 5 cars from Italy, Germany, and France for a few hours at the side of a road. And very decent, but lightly clothed according to the sunny weather, the hikers stood around in small groups and studied their hiking maps.
We had parked the cars at the starting point
The hike begins
Magnificent view: Tauern Mountains
This first tour was supposed to be easy, yet we expected already a lot. We hiked through the village Enkerbichl, where a young woman in the garden of the house No. 14 practised fast alpine music on concertina. We continued our hike always uphill into the sun drenched Weng forest.
Finally, we were able to pack away our last clothes and continue to hike uphill with naturst verve.
Somewhere above the dense edge of the forest, most of the participants needed a longer break. So we rested on an alpine meadow, between boulders and alpine flowers, in the shade of a group of trees.
Through Weng Forest
A mountain meadow with many flowers
View into the blue sky
Also, we enjoyed the already fantastic view to the south – the Tauern Mountains were in front of us in its full splendour.
According to plan, we wanted to hike along the alpine path through upper pastures towards Schneebergkreuz Mountain (1938 m), with the intermediate peaks Gamskögerl (1746 m) and Hochegg (1817 m). But we realised soon, that we had to take care not to overdo hiking further uphill at this first day. We had to recognise, that the planned route was not possible today for our large group.
So we chose a way back, which past a country homestead at the wayside. The wooden building was locked, it seemed empty. A few friendly cattle threw a glance after us.
In the meantime, our hiking group had been significantly pulled apart: everyone enjoyed this wonderful Sunday individually.
Maybe because I was tempted to take pictures of every second Alpine flower in this varied nature, I was suddenly the last along with a British hiking friend, who had the task to take care, that none of uns would get lost. Quite a good idea because of large number of persons and languages, and because some of them had no experience in hiking through the Alps.
At a hillside
A group of houses in middle of the mountains
We took a lot of photos
Anyway, my slowness proved to be an advantage for the moment, when just two police officers were approaching us:
“Stop, police, stop – what are you doing here?”
Well, my companion did not understand a single word of German, let alone the local dialect in the Pongau area. So, I served the two officers my way:
“He is from England and does not understand German at all. We are naturists, we hike in the nude. We are a group of about 25 people from several countries. We are here together for a week to hike in the Alps. Here, where you live, it is so beautiful! Because we cannot make to hike up to the summit today, we are now on our way back to our cars.”
“So, these are your cars down in Goldegg?”
“Yes.”
“And your are going to hike naked to the cars?”
“No, we don't do that, when we arrive at villages, we get dressed a little.”
“Then your're lucky, otherwise, we would have to take you all to the police station! Who is the leader of the group?”
“His name is Richard Foley, he is also an Englishman. Certainly, he is already hiking a kilometer further ahead.”
“Where are you all accommodated?”
“We rented a big house, at Dienten near Hochkönig Mountain.”
“Where exactly? … Oh yes, We know it. […] How do you all make it to gather for such an event?”
“Today, that's quite simple: via Internet → www.naktiv.net”
“The owner of the property up there called us by phone. He was worried, because you are all naked. Of course, we have to to drive here and assure ourselves what's going on.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“So, have a nice holiday!”
“Thank you very much!”
Great, I thought, just a pity, that my companion did not understand a word…
Now, to close the gap between the group, the forest path down to the group was not entirely safe for me as a barefoot hiker. But my wish to talk and inform the other hikers of the “Have a nice holiday!” by the police was reason enough to hike as fast as I could.
Impressive variety of flowers
Open view into the valley
A waterfall – right place, right time to have a shower"
However, this was easier than expected: A "cold shower" by means of a small waterfall, just as if been ordered in advance. Some of us jumped around like happy little children.
Much earlier than scheduled, but fairly satisfied, we finished our first day of hiking in our community centre with a fantastic dinner prepared by some NEWT participants, who were burning to cook. That beautiful, a nude holiday can be!
– Report and photos: Roberto