Polar Bear Plunge

[mthieme]

Polar Bear Plunges have become quite popular.
Today at Sandy Point State Park at the foot of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, thousands gather to check their testosterone levels.
Bay temp - 33 degrees. Air temp, started around 20 degrees peaking close to 40 today. Wind 10-15 knots.
Not I though, I was miles away splitting firewood! I am now in front of the fireplace enjoying the fruits of my daily labor.


www.hometownannapolis.com/slideshow/1231684700ChesapeakeBayFoundationsPolarBearPlunge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imr6nWxXUoQ

 

[Docknocker]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

Those guys are NUTS. They do it up here too, on New Years Day. Cut a hole through the ice with chainsaws to get to actual water.
I'll pass on the hart attack, sit in my warm house on iboats, and wait for summer

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

I went through the ice about 30 yards from shore while ice fishing on 2" of new ice, I was young and fearless, everytime I got one leg up and tried to crawl out the ice just broke again, I pushed my ice bucket and poles ahead on the ice and just kept breaking the ice all the way back to shore, lucky for me my car is right there and I live only 1 mile away, I get home about froze to death and my screams "get out your dripping wet I just waxed the floor!")

 

[rolmops]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

I will participate in a polar plunge event in Rochester,NY on February 8th.
It is done to help sponsor the special Olympics and to help old geezers like me to remember that we are still alive.

If you want to sponsor me just send me a pm.

 

[evinice66]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

man, my dad geos every year on new years here in milwaukee, i tried to get him to go fishing with me on somewhat open water- just had to push threw some ice.... but noooooo...... its to cold to go fishin, but NOT TOO COLD TO JUMP IN THE FREAKING LAKE!!! WTF???? this last new years me and my buddy caught 17 trout in 3 hours on my new boat, and we didnt get wet... HOW IS THAT TOO COLD? just dress warm! ok sorry just venting haha. oh well
i bet i had more fun... what an adventure!

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

It was really cold in md for the polar bear plunge this year. I got a lot of invites from friends to do it...none of that cold bay water for me.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

no way!!!!

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

They are doing one this weekend on the Susquahanna river (Harrisburg PA,) to benifit charity. My kids want to do it to but they dont know what they are in for. You can walk in and dont actualy have to submerse your whole body unless you insist I think I will go to my knees and at least I can say I did it.. The river is frozen over and there is alot of chunky ice. I hear they are going to remove ice in a area with a track-hoe on sat morning.

After that we are going to the harrisburg car & boat show to look at this years new boat models. So at least i will be enjoying one thing this weekend.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

man, my dad geos every year on new years here in milwaukee, i tried to get him to go fishing with me on somewhat open water- just had to push threw some ice.... but noooooo...... its to cold to go fishin, but NOT TOO COLD TO JUMP IN THE FREAKING LAKE!!! WTF???? this last new years me and my buddy caught 17 trout in 3 hours on my new boat, and we didnt get wet... HOW IS THAT TOO COLD? just dress warm! ok sorry just venting haha. oh well
i bet i had more fun... what an adventure!

Dude man, thats looks frigid.
These guys on do that on Erie too, I saw pictures they were actually out of the boat dragging it across the ice, crazzzy!

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

man dragging the boat across ice just sounds like work to me. they need one of those florida fan boats

 

[magillacuddy]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

Yup...they do it in Lake George every year as well. I think its part of their whole winter festival (complete with shanty races).

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Polar Bear Plunge

We did the plunge yesterday to benifit the special olympics. there was not one special person doing the plunge(they were the smart ones!!!). I don't think we will do that again! The air temp was 23 the water temp was 33. the water was not as bad as I thought but the area they had cleared out had tons of small peices of ice floating that cut our legs up pretty good. my wife got knocked down and trampled just befor the water line and messed up her knee pretty good when we got seperated and the crowed pushed toward the water..
4 people were rushed to the hospital for cold related issues. They had great water safety crews there but there was a major lack of crowd control outside the water.... If I ever have the urge the do that again I will just take a cold shower.

We got neat t-shirts though and spent 4 hrs at the hospital fun fun .

wife needed 8 stitches and has a severly brused knee cap