Editor’s note: A few months ago we warned about Swiss villagers taking a stand against naked Germans, and because of the humor in the situation, we decided to bring you an update.

Residents in the small town of Appenzell, Switzerland are pushing for new legislation to ban hiking in the buff.  In recent years, a growing number of trekkers have risked sunburn, ticks and frostbite in their most sensitive areas to frolic in the Alps without the bothersome swishing of pant legs–or any other clothing.

According to the New York Times, Appenzell police detained a young hiker in September who was sporting nothing but hiking boots and a backpack. Although he was later released, the incident sparked a controversy and pending legislation to outlaw what many see as the ultimate expression of freedom.  Locals behind the proposed law worry that Appenzell will become a nude hiking hot spot for international travelers.

“We’re not in Canada, where you can hike for hours in vast forests,” said Markus Dörig, a spokesman for the local government. “Here you meet other hikers every few minutes. It was bothersome.”

Longtime au naturel hiker Konrad Hepenstrick says he almost never meets people who are bothered. “You greet them, and they greet you, though in winter, of course, many ask, ‘Aren’t you cold?’”

The Appenzell justice department is hoping to get the nude hiking ban enacted this spring, before the snow thaws and packs of garmentless tourists head for the nearby hiking trails. Citizens will vote on the legislation on April 26.

[Via: New York Times]