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Meet the Rainbow Family: See 50 years of hippies flocking to one (illegal) annual gathering

Camille Fine
USA TODAY
A large group embraces one another, locking arms, at Shoshone National Forest in Wyo. for the Rainbow Family of Living Light in July, 1972.
A large group embraces one another, locking arms, at Shoshone National Forest in Wyo. for the Rainbow Family of Living Light in July, 1972.
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
People enter 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
People enter 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering. 
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
Participants raise hands together at the 1972 gathering.
Participants raise hands together at the 1972 gathering.
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
Zen, his wife Storm and son hike to their camp at the Rainbow Family of Living Light annual gathering in the Routt National Forest north of Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Zen, his wife Storm and son hike to their camp at the Rainbow Family of Living Light annual gathering in the Routt National Forest north of Steamboat Springs, Colo.
ED ANDRIESKI, AP
A person smokes at the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
A person smokes at the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers search the bags of several people who were pulled over in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest north of Stevenson, Wash., for the annual Rainbow Family gathering.
U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers search the bags of several people who were pulled over in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest north of Stevenson, Wash., for the annual Rainbow Family gathering.
Shannon Dininny, AP
Chris Montesano, left, talks to Sonya, Sophia Illig and Sunxine, at the Rainbow Gathering of Living Light on June 27, 2005, at the Cranberry Wilderness Area, near Millpoint, West Virginia.
Chris Montesano, left, talks to Sonya, Sophia Illig and Sunxine, at the Rainbow Gathering of Living Light on June 27, 2005, at the Cranberry Wilderness Area, near Millpoint, West Virginia.
JON C. HANCOCK, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two people embrace at the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
Two people embrace at the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
A group attending the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gather to eat a meal.
A group attending the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gather to eat a meal.
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
A Rainbow Family member from Moab, Utah, who calls himself " The Water Man " , soaks in a makeshift hot tub on July 1, 1995, at the Rainbow Gathering in the Carson National Forest.
A Rainbow Family member from Moab, Utah, who calls himself "The Water Man", soaks in a makeshift hot tub on July 1, 1995, at the Rainbow Gathering in the Carson National Forest.
ALLISON V. SMITH, Associated Press
Mother and daughter walk to the bathroom at the 2005 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
Mother and daughter walk to the bathroom at the 2005 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
JON C. HANCOCK, AP
A camper carries his pack and guitar to a remote meadow in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for the 2011 Rainbow Family Gathering.
A camper carries his pack and guitar to a remote meadow in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for the 2011 Rainbow Family Gathering.
Shannon Dininny, AP
A sign welcomes people to the gathering of the Rainbow Family of Living Light in Vermont ' s Green Mountain National Forest for the 2016 Rainbow Gathering of Living Light.
A sign welcomes people to the gathering of the Rainbow Family of Living Light in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest for the 2016 Rainbow Gathering of Living Light.
Wilson Ring, AP
People affiliated with the Rainbow Family of Living Light gather in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
People affiliated with the Rainbow Family of Living Light gather in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
James Nord, AP
Participants at The Rainbow Family Gathering hold hands near the permiter of Cache Creek Meadow on July 4, 2001.
Participants at The Rainbow Family Gathering hold hands near the permiter of Cache Creek Meadow on July 4, 2001.
Bill Schaefer, Getty Images
Two people embrace at the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
Two people embrace at the 1972 Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering.
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
Members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light gather under a tarp at their campsite in Mount Tabor, Vt. for the Rainbow Gathering of Living Light on June 28, 2016.
Members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light gather under a tarp at their campsite in Mount Tabor, Vt. for the Rainbow Gathering of Living Light on June 28, 2016.
Wilson Ring, AP
Tipis and campers are seen at Shoshone National Forest in 1972.
Tipis and campers are seen at Shoshone National Forest in 1972.
Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Stanford University Libraries
Members of the Family, a Christian organization, silently march with a flag-draped casket July 4, 2001, during the Rainbow Family Gathering in Cache Creek Meadow, Idaho.
Members of the Family, a Christian organization, silently march with a flag-draped casket July 4, 2001, during the Rainbow Family Gathering in Cache Creek Meadow, Idaho.
Bill Schaefer, Getty Images
A man plays drums while others dance during the Rainbow Family Gathering July 4, 2001 in Cache Creek Meadow, Idaho.
A man plays drums while others dance during the Rainbow Family Gathering July 4, 2001 in Cache Creek Meadow, Idaho.
Bill Schaefer, Getty Images
People wait to cross a bridge to enter the Rainbow Family Gathering on July 4, 2001 in Cache Creek Meadow, Idaho.
People wait to cross a bridge to enter the Rainbow Family Gathering on July 4, 2001 in Cache Creek Meadow, Idaho.
Bill Schaefer, Getty Images
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