In previous winter I began from 1st January and then every weekend, but not only the coldest (4-5 Feb), from which I wrote main story later. Longest time was at 26th February 1 h 47 min and temperature in this day about -4-5 (23-25 F), but sunny. Feeling of cold is not the same every time. Generally it can be very different. But normally after some 30-40 minutes is the warmest moment, then you don’t feel any cold. After some 1 h – 1h 15 min body started to feel colder again, but not too much. Nevertheless that means body have already frozen and feelings will be maybe better later, but interests of the health you must finish nude winter walk. I must admit, that I walk in winter not totally naked, but with ski hat, gloves and sports shoes.
But until 2010 december I didn’t know that there is one girl, who had practiced winter nudism since five years old and had achieved much better results, that anybody can imagine. I met her accidentally and very luckily – this was during one of my many winter naked walks. On forest trail I suddenly saw, that somebody is coming towards me. That was not surprise, because I have met some people during the walks, only reactions have been different. But now I was bewildered, because I saw naked girl coming on the same track.
Obviously we talked some minutes, because seeing other person do same thing is interesting. Unlike me girl was totally naked – not even shoes, barefooted. She allowed me touch her skin, and it was shockingly warm, although she told has been about hour in forest. After conversation she give her cell phone number, because she told, that her parents don’t allow her to go naked walk and I maybe can help to fulfill her dreams about extreme winter nudity.
Briefly her story was, that father exercised her from 5-year old get used to cold. She ran in snow and then spells were every time longer. At 8 years old she was able to spend about hour naked in winter conditions. But when she became 9 years old in next winter, father said: „No way you go naked anymore. Until now we continue steeling in swimsuit only.“ Girl claimed, that it was not same experience anymore and she started later secretly go to walk again stark-naked, as it was on day of our meeting. She was 13 then.
If some our winters were mild, then 2011 February was cold. And we agreed, that in 24th February, which was holiday, girl says to parent that she have one event with friends, but actually she will take record naked walk in this day despite of temperature. And it was cold day: about 10.45, when starting, temperature in forest was -19 (about -2 F). Our aim was to walk 2 hours and I was dressed warmly in contrast to girl. Only I insisted, that she have to start with shoes and then decide, when to continue barefooted.
But it was sunny day and temperature was rising every minute. I check it out now and it was -15,8 at noon and -12,4 at 1 p.m. As I expected, girl was not feeling much cold and took the boots off soon. She said, that barefooted is simply more comfortable. After two hours she said, that its not a problem to continue experience, but we finished at 13.22. It means 2 hours 37 min.
Our last winter was in the beginning very mild, in December not even below zero temperatures (32 F). Girl was talking, that in this winter she tries to do something extraordinary, what she have never done – to spend all day naked outside. But she was waiting colder temperatures to get this experience more harsh. At the end of January it was quickly getting colder and weather forecast predicted extreme cold – about -25-30 (-14-22 F) in morning and maybe -20 afternoon. When I called to girl, she was very excited and almost overjoyed about prediction and we choose 4th February to this naked day. Look here temperatures in morning: (http://www.emhi.ee/index.php?ide=21&ts=1328421600&go=1).
Girl insisted, that all walk will take part only in her terms. 1) Walk starts approximately at sunrise and finish at sunset, it was from 8.13 am to 4.42 p.m. 2) All clothes and also boots must be left in car.
She asked friend with to witness her experience, but it was mistake, because we had problems with other girl. I asked my friend to came and recording all activities as the evidence.
Morning was extremely cold. All ski events in this day were cancelled, and it took 5 minutes to get car started. I put maximum clothes on: special winter boots with two pair of socks, two pair of trousers, shirt, blouse, sweater, jersey and warm jacket, special wool hat and gloves. Experiment girl’s friend had somewhat less right clothing and problems started.
Walk began at 8.11 – we reached right time. At temperature -30,5 (-23 F) girl was feeling extreme cold at first 20 minutes. She said, that breathing was not ok, but she tried to improve the situation. Also she was walking mainly in thick snow, because the surface layer of snow was colder. Often she jumped into snow, and made some exercises, herself lying in snow.
Weather was not getting any warmer to 9 a.m, only a little bit (-30,1). And then it happened – naked girl’s friend said, that she can’t stand the cold longer. My friend had to go immediately to cottage (our walk’s half-point and finish point) with other girl, and we agreed to meet again at half-point and then he continues filming.
The sun began to shine between the trees and girl’s self-condition improved slowly. „Now the harder part is over and hopefully I can soon enjoy my walk,“ she said. „But it was really cold, I didn’t expect this. It is pity, that my friend didn’t withsstand.“
About 10.30 we reached near river, which was partially ice-free because of sources. I suggested girl to swim a little bit, because in this case water temperature was warming her. She was really happy in water, splashed and swam. When she came out of water, she was warmed up. „What a great pleasure,“ she said. „I am here middle of the winter and now began to feel comfortable.“
After 11.00 we reached a small village. We wanted to include some public nudity experience to winter walk. Girl was again very excited, but she didn’t know yet reaction of the people, which later made her cry.
One older lady was first to notice us. She didn’t believe her eyes and started shout and ran out of our way. After that news about naked girl spread throughout the village and despite of cold weather more and more people came out of the house. One man asked: „Is it joke or something? What you are thinking himself?“ We explained, that girl is doing experience and will be naked all day. Then another one pointed: „If she stands cold, as you said, why she don’t wear panties or swimsuit? How old she is? It is inappropriate and ill-mannered behaving from such young girl!“
Girl was feeling like devastated. Nobody said anything about her courage. Girl tried to say something to protect herself: „You don’t understand, that I am not feeling shame being naked. It’s your problem.“ But it was like oil poured into the fire. People get more angry and somebody named girl a slut. And then poor girl started to cry: „I am not a slut!“.
We had to leave village quickly. For me it was unreasonable, that NOBODY said anything about girl’s courage, only they repeated like robots: „Wear panties and bra!“ Absolutely irrational situation: girl was going naked on -25C and people even were not surprised!
Poor girl felt cold again, because she was devastated about people’s reaction. She was all shivering and I offered to finish experience and to give her some my clothes and go quickly to cottage. But girl replied: „No! I can handle!“ She did some quick yoga exercises and strongly focused to eliminate the feeling of cold. And that 5-minute effort was worth of it – girl was not shivering anymore and forgot disappointment of people’s response.
We arrived to the cottage at noon. Temperature was now „only“ -21. My friend and girls friend, now warmed up, were waiting and also temperature inside cottage has reached until +10 (52 F). I asked: „This has lasted almost 4 hours. Come in and put the clothes back on!“
„No!“ replied girl again resolutely. „But I need some rest after walking over 10 kilometres. Bring something from house, on which I can sit!“
We brought chair and also made for her hot tea. Funny, if someone had seen this weird situation: warmly dressed men enjoy brief stop on house and let naked girl to sit outside! But these were the rules. Other girl had some talk with experiment girl and when she came back to house, she told: „Kate was very upset about people’s reaction, but she is really brave! She is happy now and warmed also.“
We made rest some 25 minutes and then continued walk to other part of forest. We had to go through snowy path and then trail over frozen marsh, which sparkled beautifully in cold weather. It was southern part of natural park. „It is like wild beauty, more interesting part of trip. You can maybe enjoy a nature,“ I said to girl. „I never had been here,“ she answered. „But I have heard, that is beautiful.“
„The sun heats a lot,“ said girl after some 4 kilometres, when we arrived on trees-free marsh. „I am now hot again.“ This was like miracle – girl really have not anymore frozen body. At 2 p.m temperature was rising to -19 – warmest time in that day. We soon started our way back through other way, but before that we met one biologist (woman) skiing on marsh with son and daughter, about the same age as our girl.
Kate was little bit frightened again, but biologist was very kind-hearted and praised girl. „See, how good health she has. But my children are so often ill and not prepared. Therefore I took them today to nature, though warmly dressed,“ laughed she hilariously. She never mentioned absence of pants, although her boy was present. „This is quite an achievement,“ she says about girl’s extreme winter experience, but was not really stricken. „If to practice, everything is possible,“ she concluded calmly and we leave biologist family.
End of our trip was too routine, there was nothing more to describe. We finished exactly according to plan at 4.42 p.m. After sitting some time in cottage and Kate getting her clothes back we leave at home again. There were difficult moments, but she get over and kept her promise.