David Figura l NYup.com

Howes Cave, N.Y. -- The lodge at Howe Caverns Saturday evening was packed with smiling folks in bathrobes eager, and in many cases apprehensive about participating in the first-ever "Naked in a Cave" event.

I was one of them.

As an outdoors writer for NYup.com, I usually cover everything from birding to bear hunting. I figured this would be a good change of pace, with no need for sunscreen or insect repellent.

Don't Edit

I have to admit, I had reservations about dropping my trousers and walking in my birthday suit in front of what turned out to be nearly 280 folks from throughout the state and beyond. Add to that, the cave's temperature was 52 degrees.

"There's going to be a lot of shrinkage and headlights down there," joked Brenda, 65, of Buffalo, a nudist for more than 30 years.

Howe Caverns in Schoharie County is the largest cave open to the public in the Northeast, and the second most visited natural attraction in New York State after Niagara Falls.

Don't Edit

David Figura l NYup.com

Howe officials were adamant about restricting media coverage for the naked event and banning cameras and cell phones to protect the privacy of those attending. I paid the $65 entry fee and agreed to their restrictions. Keeping with the event's spirit of confidentiality, I tread softly on the interviews, asking only for persons' first names, their age and where they were from.

I soon discovered the people in, and outside the lodge were a mix of diehard, card-carrying nudists and others who were doing the naked thing for kicks, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Why am I doing this? When I'm in a nursing home laying there in a bed giggling to myself, the nurses will ask, 'Why are you giggling?'" said Pat, 58, of Virginia. "I'll say, 'Oh, I'm just remembering all the s--- I use to do."

One couple, Keith, 46, of Binghamton, and Michelle, 43, of Port Crane, are divorced, but admitted they're better off as friends.

"I found out about it first and asked Keith. The reason is, I didn't know anyone else who would do it with me. It's a little out of our comfort zone, pushing the limits," Michelle said, adding the two actually had a practice night beforehand.

Don't Edit

"About a week ago, I told him, Let's get naked and rehearse.' So he came over, took off his clothes and I took mine off. We said, 'OK, we can do this,' and put our clothes back on," she said.

The event began at the Howe Cavern Lodge, where I was handed a black, cotton/polyester bathrobe and bag and was told to disrobe in the bathroom, putting my clothes in the bag. I then put on the bathrobe and returned upstairs to a sort of social hour, where two topless female bartenders were serving drinks.

In the lobby area, celebrity survivalist Sarah Danser, from the Discovery Channel's popular TV reality series. "Naked and Afraid," was clothed and signing autographs and posing for pictures. I'm a fan of the show and asked her for tips on surviving the 52 degrees below.

"Keep your arms by your side so your body heat doesn't escape from your arm pits, and put your hands over your chest -- and keep moving, running in place, things like that," she advised. I later saw her naked in the cavern, chatted more with her and sat next to her on the boat ride in the cavern's narrow underground lake.

The naked experience began with groups of 12 or more taking elevators down some 75 feet in the ground to the caverns. Once you stepped off the elevator, it was the point of no return. You were required to shed your robe at a table, where they put it on numbered hanger for when you returned.

Don't Edit

Frankly, the shock of being naked wore off fast. The nudists I had talked to told me that would happen, and they were right. There were a wide variety of body types, scars, tattoos and levels of conditioning. Following the initial moment or two of uneasiness, everyone seemed to adjust.

April Islip, general manager of Howe's Caverns, told me the crowd consisted of those ages 18 to 80 -- and that the 80-year-old was there celebrating his birthday.

The coolness of the cave didn't bother me. I immediately kept walking along the brick pathway, taking in the interesting geological formations in the cavern and the physiological forms of everyone passing me by on the lit pathway.

I occasionally felt a drop of water on my skin. Following Danser's advice, I kept my arms close to my side and jogged in place a couple of times.

WARNING: The photos below contain partial nudity.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Along the way, Howe Caverns staffers in bathrobes held up thought-provoking and humorous signs to ease any tensions. Things like, "Happiness isn't size specific," and "A wee bit nipply." (Islip told me the event was initially going to be called "Nips and Nubs," but that was dropped because of the sexual connotations).

Further down the path was a table where small cookies, cupcakes and other pastries were served, along with coffee, hot chocolate and tea. Nearby, a woman dressed in a gown played a harp, covering a wide variety of songs ranging from "What a Wonderful World," to "County Roads."

A bit further, attendees could have their picture taken for $10. People could wear custom items such as a Viking hat with horns or a bow tie. Afterward, everyone was handed the memory chip from the shoot so they could have a print made in the lobby afterward.

Don't Edit

I then took the boat ride on the underground lake. Small towels were handed out to sit on. The boat's seats were cold.

In all, I spent about an hour and 15 minutes naked in the cavern. It felt good at the end to put on my bathrobe and return by elevator to the warm setting upstairs in lobby.

When I got upstairs, I was handed a medal that read, "You're a sexy beast! Howe Caverns Naked in the Cave 2018."

Don't Edit

Much of the post-event conversation in the lobby consisted of those saying the nude thing wasn't as big a deal as they had previously thought. And of course, there were various references to the coolness in the cavern.

"The cold wasn't bad, once you got used to it. It was like jumping into a swimming pool," said Ed, 67, of Greenbush, a veteran nudist.

Jim, 60, of Hingham, Mass. jokingly added, "Down there, we're not the men we appear to be on the surface in the warm and heat of the sun."

Michelle, of Port Crane, told me:

"I felt like we shouldn't have been nervous at all. Because when everyone is naked, nobody can judge each other. The world would be a nicer place if everyone was naked."

See more photos from the event below.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Join us for International Nude Day Dinner on July 14th, 2018 from 4pm to 7pm.

Visit our website for more information: https://t.co/eiockIBFbv https://t.co/bMfyzAX08a pic.twitter.com/J3f8frYY2p — Grapevine Farms (@grapevine_farms) July 8, 2018

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Instagram / megaroniandcheez110

Don't Edit

Instagram / megaroniandcheez110

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Instagram / nelson101604

Don't Edit

Instagram / nelson101604

Don't Edit

Instagram / nelson101604

Don't Edit

Instagram / nelson101604

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Instagram / nelson101604

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit