Discussion
Ask a question about 'Freehiking' Start a new discussion about 'Freehiking' Answer questions from other users |
Freehiking refers to
Naked hikingNaked walking, also known as naked hiking or freehiking, is a sub-category of the modern form of social nudity....
as well as a form of hiking in which the participants intentionally avoid trails and predetermined destinations.
Naked hiking
The term
freehiking has been used by
naturistsNaturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
for decades to describe the activity of naked hiking. It was adopted by hikers after the sport of freeskiing gained popularity in the 1990s.
Off-trail hiking
For off-trail hiking, the freehiker relies on tools such as topographical maps, a
compassA compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
and a GPS unit. It emphasizes a hike experience free of constraints, as opposed to seeking a shortcut to a specific destination such as a scenic viewpoints or summits.
There is some concern that freehikers cause trailbraiding,
erosionErosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
, new trail creation, and other negative environmental impacts. The freehiking community claims that the sport is limited to open, unrestricted public areas where off-trail hiking is permitted.
External links