The year 2020 has given rise to some truly unexpected trends: Zoom happy hours. Fashionable face masks. And now, topless hiking.
Well, not strictly hiking, but certainly posing for topless photos at the top of mountain summits, an ’empowering’ craze that’s been growing in several places across the country, including Colorado, where toplessness in public is legal.
The Denver Post reports that more and more women climbing the Rockies have taken to celebrating their athletic feats by casting aside their T-shirts and sports bras and posing for topless pictures while overlooking scenic vistas, their bare backs facing the camera out in the open where any other hiker could walk by.
Enjoying the view: More and more women are posing topless while hiking in a growing trend
Making mammaries! In some places, like Colorado — a popular place for topless hiking — it is legal for women to be shirtless in public
Bosom buddies: In Colorado alone, the trend has been taken to Flatiron One Summit, the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and the James Peak Wilderness
A quick Instagram search yields dozens of photos of women similarly posed on mountaintops. They face away from the camera, their bare backs exposed above leggings and sneakers. In front of them are gorgeous views.
In Colorado alone, the trend has been taken to Flatiron One Summit, the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and the James Peak Wilderness.
Beyond Colorado, hikers have done it in Oregon, New York, Georgia, Utah, Alaska, Washington, Nevada, California, and even Canada.
Some do it solo, others in groups, and weather doesn’t appear to factor in, with a few going topless for photos as they’re surrounded by snow.
‘It feels fun, exciting, and maybe a little risky to be naked in nature,’ Kari Armstrong, a co-organizer of a women’s hiking club called The Boulder Hiker Chicks, told the Denver Post. ‘When you have worked hard for your hike, or even if you haven’t, it is fun to do something a little silly and liberating to celebrate.’
‘I think it’s just one more way for women to unapologetically claim their space on the trails and in nature,’ added Alli Fronzaglia, the club’s co-organizer.
‘So many of us, as women, spend our lives trying to do the right thing, trying to look a certain way, trying not to offend, trying to just be acceptable to society. Being in nature reminds us that, like the wildflowers and the trees, we’re perfect just as we are.’
The hills are alive! Beyond Colorado, hikers have done it in Oregon, New York, Georgia, Utah, Alaska, Washington, Nevada, California, and even Canada
Flashing Mother Nature! Some do it solo, others in groups, and weather doesn’t appear to factor in, with a few going topless for photos as they’re surrounded by snow
Mountains of modesty! A co-organizer for a women’s hiking club said ‘it feels fun, exciting, and maybe a little risky to be naked in nature’ (not pictured)
The Boulder Hiker Chicks Instagram page has plenty of photos of groups of female hikers posing topless — all taken from behind — which have been posted over the years. In a few, the women even go fully nude.
But Armstrong and Fronzaglia admit it wasn’t their idea: They were inspired by another hiking group’s social media account, which posted similar photos in 2015.
The trend has spread to other groups and individuals too.
Some do it just for the fun of it, to be silly or wild. One woman who posed topless on a hike in San Diego wrote on Instagram: ‘Take the road less traveled & be carefree! Let the girls be free.’
‘It was just so hot the girls needed some air,’ quipped another, who posed topless in Joshua Tree National Park.
But others have more emotional reasons, liking having recovered from a serious illness, or left a bad relationship, overcome body issues.
‘Before you judge me for this picture please read,’ one woman captioned her own topless hiking picture. ‘It took my husband almost four years to fix the damage another man caused. Almost four years to make me comfortable with myself again.
‘I think it’s just one more way for women to unapologetically claim their space on the trails and in nature,’ added another women’s hiking club organizer (not pictured)
Freedom! Some do it just for the fun of it, to be silly or wild, while others do it to feel empowered after overcoming illness, bad relationships, and body image issues
‘It was just so hot the girls needed some air,’ quipped one woman (not pictured) of her topless picture
‘Almost four years to get me to believe that I am strong. That I am beautiful. Almost four years to fix a six month mistake.’
Kelli Schulte, 36, also tried the trend on Torreys Peak after getting out of a relationship.
‘This was a big, important moment for me,’ she told the Denver Post. ‘With every step, I felt empowered. Like I was taking control of my life. Like I could and would be me again. I looked at my friend and said, “I’m taking one of those topless pics and I’m never giving up the things I love again.” Then I snapped a couple of pics and I absolutely love them.’
A few have even been persuaded to give it a try despite assuming they weren’t the type to do it, like Coral Scherma, 58.
Scherma figured she would never pose topless, until she was hiking Kenosha Pass with her daughter-in-law, Donalyn White, 28. At first, they discussed the possibility of doing it jokingly — but when it was clear they were both interested, they did it together.
‘It’s freeing and exhilarating,’ White said. ‘Men are out there hiking with their shirts off all the time.’
Scherma said the photo they took together was her ‘favorite by far,’ saying it shows ‘two strong, intelligent, fierce women standing on the edge of the world.’