According to Journeys North: The Pacific Crest Trail (Bookshop|Amazon) by Barney Scout Mann, the term Hike Naked Day is rumored to have arisen among hikers along the Mexico-to-Canada route. It’s June 21, a day when many through-hikers literally strip down to stroll, and as you might expect, there is lots of photo documentation. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Hike Naked Day”
Another hiking term I learned from the book Journeys North by Barney Scout Man is Hike Naked Day. What, like literally naked or with no gear? Naked with gear, but otherwise naked.
This is wow, brave, very brave. Hike Naked Day, there’s actually a day of the year. its It’s June 21st. It’s summer solstice.
And this may have started among hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, where you just, you know, you’re in the backcountry, and you just take off your clothes and you hike.
I just sense a lot of chafing.
Well, funny you should mention that. One of the guys who earned the trail name Guts ended up hiking all, I think it’s 14,000 feet to the top of Mount Whitney, buck naked on Hike Naked Day.
Okay.
And ever after, he was known as Guts. He probably should have been known as Sunburn, though, because he neglected.
Or Red Buns.
Yeah.
Yeah, but anyway, something to look forward to. Hike Naked Day on June 21st.
All right, let me know how that goes, Martha.
I will.
Pictures or it didn’t happen, right?
No, you can keep those.
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