There may be many reasons for each individual but, at least for me, I
think the main reason is that being naked feels good. As the lady in
the picture clearly has in mind, if you enjoy the view too, so much
the better.
When I am naked I can feel liberated and more in touch with my
surroundings, with nature perhaps. I remember some years ago walking
along a remote Karakorum Himalaya valley, the rock-strewn glacier
snaked along the valley, hugging both sides, while enormous mountains
soared on either side of me towards the clouds. The people in my group
were either way in front or way behind, out of sight. I was completely
alone in this vast amphitheatre. At that moment, I felt singularly
humble. I was on a foreign continent, attempting to climb a remote
8,000 metre high himalayan mountain, and I was at once completely
insignificant and instantly connected to all of it. For me, hiking
naked sometimes reminds me of that feeling, of being in some small way
related to the vastness that is all around us. I do not mean to say
that to experience nature you have to take your clothes off, that
would be daft, (though arguably arguable ;-). I am only trying to say
here that it can mean that for some people.
At the end of the day though, when all is said and done, when the
multiple deep and meaningful reasons have been passed around, argued,
examined and evaluated, none of them are really that important. Being
naked simply feels good – what more reason do you need ?-)
