The BR2 Radio Broadcast

Tania and I started from the Tegernsee Bahnhof and tramped along the easy trail up into the base of the steep forest above the lake. After a short while, we reached the point where a smaller trail headed up the hill and we stopped here briefly to allow a small group to pass before removing our clothes and putting them in our rucksacks. It was refreshing to feel the forest air over our entire skin, and we followed the main trail as it zig-zagged up through the trees.

We made a steady pace, and ahead of us could see the small party which had passed us earlier, stopping for a short break. We passed them with the usual pleasantries, the smiles and the have-a-nice-day's, which one commonly exchanges with fellow alpine hikers. As we steadily gained height, every now and then we stopped, to eat some wild raspberries growing amongst the underbrush, or just to take in the pleasant shaded atmosphere of the thick arboreal canopy above. A speedy couple overtook us, who didn't smile at all, just as we came on the tail end of a mixed group of about 12 somewhat older people. We passed them, more or less two at a time, with some light revelry at the unexpected sight of a naked man and woman in their midst. They were clearly surprised, but did not seem in the least upset by the event, and in fact were quite friendly. In fact, although we set a reasonable pace all the way to the top of the woods, and having already overtaken them halfway up the hill, they maintained a steady distance just behind us the rest of the way.

We came out into the sunlight at the top of the woods, and a large open swathe of bright grass led us up towards the gasthof on the ridge. We dressed, shortly before arriving there and, having brought our own lunch, continued along the trail to get a little peace and quiet. 100 metres past the gasthof, we stripped off again, just as Tania began to demolish yet another raspberry bush. A number of people joined the trail here from ahead and to the left of us, and a few cyclists came hurtling past, one trailing a camera and asking if it was ok if he took a photo. We didn't mind of course, although we thought that if he'd stopped perhaps the photo would not be so blurred.

We continued along the easy ridge path, surrounded by trees again, until we reached an open spot, where we could stop for a bit of lunch. A little salami and cheese, some fruit and vegetables, a cool drink, a good view and companiable company. Naked in the high mountain sunshine, amidst the trees and foothills of southern Bavaria, we soaked up the atmosphere quietly.

Suitably refreshed we set off once more and, after a kilometre or so, headed up the last slopes towards the summit ridge. This might sound very dramatic, but we're talking here about a slightly steep path going directly up the final grassy knoll of a low alpine hill. Just as we reached the ridge we were overtaken by an enthusiastic walker who, it transpired, was an interviewer for a regional radio station: BR2 Radio. She was doing a piece for a program to be broadcast during the following week, on the subject of walkers in the Bavariarn Alps. Apparently Thursday was Bayerische Wandertag, and she'd heard about us from some of the other walkers we'd passed earlier - she was clearly pleased to have caught up with us. We were happy to be interviewed and I hope we both gave a reasonable account of our activities and the basic premise of Nacktivism, that is essentially: doing your favourite activity naked, or just being naked, in the great outdoors wherever possible. She was very pleasant and we spent a short while chatting together. Of course, she had other people to talk to too, and she and her girl friend left us to round up some other likely-looking interviewees walking up the other side of the hill towards the summit cross just ahead of us.

We left them to it and headed north-east past a couple of nicely nestled huts, and on to the main trail down the valley. Here we were passed by a number of people, all walking faster than we were, with many a wave and a smile exchanged. I felt sure they would not have been so friendly had we had razor-blades stuck through our noses and eyebrows. We observed that being naked seemed to exude an implicit air of friendliness towards everybody. The trail headed down to the valley on a wide forest road, with only a few more passers-by. We cut the walk a little shorter, with an eye on the darkening clouds building up behind us, and after an hour or so dressed to enter Schliersee village. We wended our way to the lakeside, where we found a single two-metre wide slot of mud, in a huge green field, where we could actually reach the water to take a dip. I demured, but Tania waded straight in, much to the, presumably pleasant, surprise of the fisherman in the boat twenty metres out. After a while we reluctantly dressed and returned to the village, passing through a summer fest on the lakeside, with an occassional horse and cart and many beer tents, and caught the next train back to Munich centre. Another fine day spent wandering naked and free amongst the foothills of the European alps.