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I live by the philosophy of trying almost anything once. I’ve ticked paragliding in Peru, cliff jumping in Kaua’i and driving a motorcycle in Colorado off my bucket list. But I’ll admit that the idea of hiking in the woods with 21 nude strangers gave me pause.

At in Boulder County, this is the norm. Owner Mickey Haggerty invited me to see the 30-acre homestead in its naked glory by joining him and members of the Rocky Mountain Naturist Club — naturist being the term for a non-sexual nudist — on a Sunday hike in late June. It wouldn’t be my first Denver Post assignment involving nudity.



Last year, I covered . However, the facility on West Colfax Avenue segregates by gender, so I only interviewed naked women — much less intimidating as a woman myself. This time, both Eve and Adam would be present, so to speak.

In the weeks before the hike, I lobbed the idea off friends and coworkers. My boyfriend — a forester — naturally deferred to logistical planning. What about the bodily risk of ticks or sharp branches? My younger sister was over the moon at the prospect, and my mom sighed and laughed.

For his peace of mind, my dad has yet to be told about the outing. The questions about who, what, where, when and why were expected, but I most enjoyed the out-of-character reactions. For instance, a plainspoken friend who hails from the Northeast revealed that he was raised by a pair of hippies, so he’d feel entirely comfortable in such a situation.

Haggerty does, too. �.

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