It was a chill -7 C as locals, along with some from away, came to the to the lake to ring in the new year with a polar bear swim.
Four people, Pat Dion, Marie Davidson, Laurie Page, and David Pridgeon, braved the icy waters as friends and family cheered them on.
The event started with a song, sung to the tune of Adele’s “Hello,” written that morning by Sophie Pridgeon, David’s daughter.
This isn’t the first polar bear swim for Dion or Pridgeon.
“In 2008, we were down in Tasmania, and we went for a polar bear swim,” said Dion. “Of course, it was 12 degrees. It’s summer there now.”
The whole idea here originally started as a joke suggested by Pridgeon.
“I heard on the radio there was one in Kaslo,” he said. “We just thought we would run with it, and the next thing you know, it happened But your water is very cold.”
The quartet waded into the frigid waters, with many exclamations over the temperature. Once they got so far in, Page and Dion dove under for a full immersion.
There was an extra visitor to the event when an otter was spotted swimming near by.
Towels and hot chocolate were on hand once the event was over.
Along with the chattering of teeth, there was much laughter.
Pridgeion noted some similarities to the swim here and the one back home.
“We get the chill, and lots of wind, so the water wasn’t too bad, but my feet are really cold.”
There is talk of possibly doing this again next year with the idea of using the swim as a fundraiser for something in the community.