waltt@tekecs.UUCP (Walt Tucker) (08/02/83)
Being that Oregon has quite a bit of back country (once you
get out of the Willamette Valley), nudity while camping or
hiking is no big deal. For instance, standing under a water-
fall or swimming in a secluded mountain lake with your
/girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/camping group/etc ala birthday
suit is about as refreshed as you can get. Note that this
is not organized nudity, but is the good 'ol natural spontaneous
stuff (let's not forget the "nature" in naturalist [actually I
don't know of any naturalist organization around here; people
just do it]).
I'll echo Bob Perry's comments on hot springs around Oregon.
I know there are a lot of them, and most have names (which I
always forget), the only one I have ever been to is on the
Willamette Pass (Hwy 58) about 5-8 miles south of Oakridge. This
one is always a favorite of the people around Eugene (pop. 100,000
and also home of the University of Oregon). The Willamette
river goes by as it is coming down out of the Cascade mountains
(cold!) about 50 feet from the two natural hot spring pools.
Bathing is done amid the mountain pines. Beautiful place. Friendly
people.
These hot springs are not a park or anything, just down a trail
off the side of the highway (look for the cars). The people that
use it generally keep it pretty clean. The springs are not really
worth the 140 miles from Portland, but if you happen to
be driving by and not in a hurry, they make a nice little travel
stop (the last time I was there, there were about a dozen people
there). After a dip in the pool, and a rinse in the river, you're
wide awake, refreshed, and ready to travel.
Who of us that grew up in the small towns around Oregon didn't
enjoy an occasional nude dip in the local "swimming hole"? Especially
back in the junior high and high school days after girls had been
discovered and noticed. But now I'm beginning to ramble. Ah, memories,
memories.....
Thank God I'm a Country Boy
(I have friends that are
loggers, too),
Walt Tucker
Tektronix, Inc
tektronix!tekecs!waltt