Naked Journal can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K8nGUto6TIU5gkGkCEgf-hCALilxYLPs/view?usp=sharing 

Scottish Mountain Rescue 

Scottish Mountain Rescue is formed of 25 teams who are able to be mobilised at any point- 24 hours in a day, 365 days of the year. Their aim is to 'Save Lives, Any Hour, Any Day, Any Weather’. The nature of the Scottish hills, and unpredictable weather, means each rescue requires mobilisation of several volunteers. Each rescue is estimated to cost £1500-£2500.

The team members are all volunteering their time, however funding is required for Mountain Rescue to support with training, equipment and insurance. Although, it is a very selfless charity which sees many volunteers donating their own equipment, covering their own travel costs and, of course, their value time and knowledge. 

The Scottish Mountains are a place of escape for so many of us. However, there is always the chance something unbeknown can occur to anyone, even the most prepared. Their services are vital to safeguard the hills and allow so many to enjoy their splendour. 

On behalf of everyone involved, and those who donate, I would like to thank Mountain Rescue for their continual hard work to allow so many to access the beauty of the Scottish hills safely. Please use the JustGiving page to donate to this fabulous cause. £100 could buy an ice axe for a rescuer, £50 could buy a harness and £10 could buy a pair of socks for one rescuer- every little will help to ensure we can safely enjoy the incredible hills Scotland has to offer. 

Being Naked 

The hill running community is a lovely one to be a part of. As the world perpetually challenges our our ability to feel secure in our own bodies, the hills and our community bring us a needed sense of perspective. To be in a healthy and capable body, comes above all other conflicting desires. 

Body neutrality is the ability to understand and prioritise how our body feels in the present moment. Placing worth on this feeling, rather than allowing an external source to decide worth, or striving to manipulate the body into a less natural state, hopes to bring the mind contentment and ultimately some semblance of happiness with who and what we are. 

The desire to move towards a body neutrality culture comes from some staggering findings. The ‘Self Esteem Project’ found that 96% of women in the UK reported feeling anxious about their bodies. Across the globe there was only 4% of woman respondents who considered themselves ‘beautiful’ and by the time girls reached 17, 78% were ‘unhappy with their bodies’. 

Although, one of the most important aspects going forward is understanding our role in body image gender equality. Men similarly struggle with body concerns, shown through a study which found that 69% of male adolescence were dissatisfied with their bodies. Another study, specifically into male students in the US, found that 90% of respondents were dissatisfied in terms of muscularity (Quittkat, 2019). 

We hope that we can foster a mindset throughout the community that encourages health and moves beyond judgment inflicted on our own bodies. The University of Washington found that spending time with each other in nature has been found to bring a whole host of researched benefits. These include increased cognitive ability, stress reduction, increased happiness, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose (Bratman, 2019).  

Finally, a recent study by West (2020) found that those who were assigned to interact as a group naked, opposed to being clothed, had a greater body appreciation and reduced social physique anxiety after the intervention. 

To conclude, let’s spend more time together, in nature, naked. Then maybe, we can be one step closer to being content and accepting of who we are.