Naked On The Mountaintop

There seems to be an informal tradition among some to strip when reaching the summits of mountain peaks. I remember climbing Mt. Rob Roy in New Zealand and meeting a Swiss fellow who insisted on dropping his drawers. But it's important for foreign tourists to remember that they must follow local laws. It's a good idea to follow local customs too, lest one be judged properly as arrogant and disrespectful:

Then, said Mr Nor, one of the group came up with the idea of removing their clothes.

“I don’t know whose idea it was, but obviously it was improvisation.

“I told them not to be naked on Mount Kinabalu, because it’s not appropriate,” he said. “I told them other groups of tourists were nearby and they may feel offended – but they wouldn’t listen.”

He said that no one in the group asked whether it was acceptable.

“The guys started to take their clothes off, and those women start follow.

“The girls were not so wilful – they just changed into their underwear. After they took off their bras, they put their clothes back on. They were just half-naked, they didn’t take off their underwear.

“But the guys were stubborn. When they didn’t take my advice I could only leave them and walk away.”