PORT ANGELES — Scores of hardy souls will brave the frigid waters of the Salish Sea — and an even colder West End lake — to ring in the new year with polar bear plunges across the North Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday.
The oldest and largest of the annual dips will be at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles.
Dan Welden, co-organizer of the 32nd Port Angeles plunge, said he expects between 75 to 100 to participate in the triple-dip “Freezin’ for a Reason,” which doubles as a fundraiser for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.
“It’s the one time in the whole year when you can just hoot and holler and scream and act crazy without getting arrested,” Welden said in a Monday interview.
“It’s just a really fun thing to do on the first day of the year.”
For the past eight years, Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County has taken donations while serving pastries to the plungers from a booth.
This year, a daughter of Volunteer Hospice Clallam County founder Rose Crumb will participate in the plunge, Welden said.
“The new director for the hospice is also going in this year,” Welden added.
The Port Angeles plunge involves three consecutive dips into the harbor. Welden said most people are numb to the cold by the third dip.
The water temperate in the Strait of Juan de Fuca was 47 degrees as of Monday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The National Weather Service called for rain and temperature in the 40s Wednesday.
Many participants enjoy the camaraderie of the Port Angeles plunge, Welden said.
“It definitely wakes you up and tells you that the new year is coming,” he added.
A fire will be available for the participants at Hollywood Beach. Hot chocolate will be provided by the Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel.
On the West End, the 13th Lake Pleasant New Year’s Day polar plunge is slated for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the boat launch at 10 Picnic Loop in Beaver.
Organizer Carin Hirsch, who participated in the first 10 Lake Pleasant plunges, said the water temperature in the lake is usually in the 30s.
“One year it had an inch of ice on it and we had to crunch through it,” Hirsch said Monday.
“It’s very invigorating, I must say.”
Organizers say the plunge at Lake Pleasant is usually over in a matter of minutes.
Hirsch said she expects 10 to 20 participants Wednesday. The turnout for the Lake Pleasant dip has ranged from 31 to eight over the years, she added.
People jump into the cold water during the Polar Bear Dip on Marrowstone Island on New Year’s Day in 2019. (Peninsula Daily News file)
In Jefferson County, the Nordland General Store on Marrowstone Island will host its 26th annual Polar Bear Dip at noon.
Brave souls are invited to join organizers at the dock across from the landmark store at 7180 Flagler Road.
Fifty-five people of all ages took part in the 25th Polar Bear Dip in Nordland last year.
In Hamma Hamma, on the Hood Canal in Mason County, Hama Hama Oysters will have its Polar Bear Dip at noon.
The benefit plunge is at 35846 U.S. Highway 101.
Entrants will pay $20 for the dip and a polar plunge party that includes a half-dozen oysters — raw or grilled — and hot, non-alcoholic drinks.
All proceeds go to support a man who has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
