Pursuing My Passion About Nudism and Body Acceptance

Post Update from Author:

I’m Still Pursuing My Passions!

Early last year I wrote a blog for Bare Journeys, The Naturist Blog of the ReviewResorts.com website. I remain as passionate about nudity and body acceptance now as I was then, and it probably won’t change in the near future. But, I have some exciting news to share!

A New Grand Canyon Nude Whitewater Raft Trip in 2021

I am now planning a 2021 Grand Canyon Nude Whitewater Raft Trip in the first week of June. The information on that trip is available by sending an email to: bbprice (at) aol.com (please put Grand Canyon Raft Trip in the subject line). These trips fill very quickly, but I always create a wait list and many times those folks actually go on a trip.

Original Post:

Everyone is passionate about something – I happen to be passionate about nudism and body acceptance.  I am also passionate about Arizona – one of the best places on the planet to live and play.  And when I can combine my passions and share with others, then it makes the entire experience extra special.
 

 
In 1980 I was one of the founders of a nude travel club called Arizona Wildflowers.  We’ve had a lot of fun with the name, calling ourselves “Blooming Idiots” and “Arizona Weeds.”  I’m sure others have had other names for a group that at one time topped over 200 active members of ASA/AANR.  We camped, hiked, boated, traveled in motor homes, and even attended a number of clothed activities (attending the local horse track, for example) just because we enjoyed each others’ company.  Probably 30 years ago I became the sole owner/operator of the business and have continued to have at least one very popular activity – the nude white water raft trips through the Grand Canyon.
 
The Grand Canyon is visited by more than 6 million people a year.  Most of these people are not Naturists.  So how does one pull off a nude white water raft trip in the face of this kind of a crowd?  First, most of the 6 million people are looking down at the canyon from the rim.  They are not looking up at the rim from the river.  But even then, about 22,000 people per year go beyond the rim and find their bliss in hiking, rafting or riding mules into the canyon itself.
 
The real secret is in the size of the Grand Canyon itself.  It covers more than 1.2 million acres, much of it so primitive and hard to reach that virtually no one visits.  The river itself is up to 300 feet wide in many places and the canyon is over a mile deep and up to 10 miles wide.  That is a lot of space in which to hide a naked naturist or two.
 
That being said, it is still a good idea to be forthcoming about your intentions to enjoy any location nude.  Everyone along the river – the National Park Service, the other concessionaires and the other passengers – knows that the raft trips which I plan will be nude.  Many of them are envious of our freedom and very seldom do I hear a complaint. Although there is no federal law that prohibits mere nudity on federal land, it is still wise to be cautious.  One of the cardinal rules on our trip is to carry a cover-up.  We are especially cautious when a textile group with young children approach us.
 
Does that mean that most of the time we are covered?  Not at all.  I have run trips from Lee’s Ferry to Lake Mead (288 miles) without so much as needing to cover even once.  It is required that a PFD (Personal Flotation Device, aka life-jacket) be worn while away from shore and therefore on the river itself other passengers absolutely cannot tell that the passengers are wearing only the PFD.  But I also request that passengers not flaunt the fact that they are nude.  A little discretion goes a long way.
 
So you want to plan a similar event and don’t know where to start.  First, be sure you are passionate enough to carry it through, to consider all the small details and to be willing to “herd the cats,” making certain that the rules are followed and that no one is offended by the group dress code.  Second, look for a huge, virtually empty space.  Lake Mead and Lake Powell both qualify thus if you want to plan on house boating, as you have a great deal of room to get away from the textiles.  But also, do not immediately give in to textiles.  Once you have established a campsite – whether on a river or a lake – do not immediately dress if approached by another group.  Possession is 9/10 of the law and simply calmly explaining to another group that they are more than welcome to stay if they choose to adopt your dress code is a perfectly acceptable way of letting them know that you don’t care what they wear if they don’t care what you don’t wear.
 
So go out there and pursue your passion and have one heck of a good time.  Bon voyage, au natural.