22 December 2013

Polar Plunge

What to do with a 25-foot-wide, 5-foot-deep hole cut into an icy Anchorage lake?

Some say, jump in.

Margie Trudean and Che Coleman, of Team Marche, react to the cold Goose Lake water after plunging into the lake. Over 1000 people took the leap into the frigid waters of Goose Lake during the annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Alaska on Saturday, December 21, 2013. BOB HALLINEN — Anchorage Daily News
That's what about 1,100 people did Saturday at the fifth annual Polar Plunge at Goose Lake -- raising more than $400,000 for Special Olympics Alaska.

During the winter solstice's five hours or so of daylight, some 250 teams took the plunge dressed in costumes ranging from snowmen to superheroes and hippies to hula dancers.

"And what do Alaskans do on the shortest day of the year?" said Jim Balamaci, president of Special Olympics Alaska. "They jump into the coldest water."

There were the "Groovy Gastro Girls" from local gastroenterology offices, the "Furloughed Fedcicles" from the FBI and the "Flannel Panel" from Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse.

Some belly-flopped, a few flipped, but most just took the leap feet first into the 34-degree water before paddling to the ladders and jogging, cocooned in beach towels, to the nearby hot-tub tent.

Here are few more of the 54 photos which accompany the article, at the link:







4 comments:

PioneerPreppy said...

No thanks

Rev. Paul said...

Aw, come on, Preppy! Where's your sense of adventure? :^)

Anonymous said...

Yikes!

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

34 degrees, Guffaw. Issues?

Heh.