Cloudy skies parted and a chilly breeze picked up Sunday morning as about 100 people tried the chilly waters as many more watched at three polar bear plunge locations in Clallam County.
More than 200 people showed up for the 24th annual Polar Bear Plunge at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles, and about 75 of them took to the water at 10 a.m.
“That wasn’t bad — better than I thought it was going to be,” said David Ladiges, 36, of Port Angeles, wrapped in a towel, covered in seaweed and shivering after his cold morning dip.
About half of the polar bear dippers returned to the water for a second plunge, and even a few braved a third dunking into the cold water.
Pre-swim fashion focused on warmth, included terry cloth robes over swimsuits, furry trapper hats with swimsuits and wool socks under water shoes.
Summer Everet, 37, of Port Angeles, a first-time plunger wearing a thick terry cloth robe, added a horned Viking helmet with feathered wings, her blond hair worn in a pair of Viking-style braids.
“I’m going to wash away the old and start with the new,” Everet said just before the countdown began.
Before hitting the water, some participants huddled around a bonfire on Hollywood Beach, shivering in the 40 degree air.
Priscilla Eastman, 48, of Port Angeles, said it was her 18th plunge.
“It’s a tradition,” Eastman said.
Eastman was ready to run into the water with the group, which included her husband, Jim, 54, and her friend, Elaine Price, 64.
“He used to be my coat holder,” Priscilla said of Jim, who was participating for the 11th year.
The water was warmer than the air, about 46 degrees, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration water temperature readings.
However, it didn’t feel very warm to participants, who screamed as their bare skin hit the cold water.
Some only managed to go in waist-deep on their first try, while others dove in and swam a bit before turning back to shore.
Emma, a golden retriever belonging to Rick Hostetler of Port Angeles, was eager to join the bathers, dancing at the end of her leash as another Hostetler, James, 17, prepared to make the plunge for his first time with a friend, Erik Eyestone, 16, of Port Angeles.
“She’d go if we let her,” Rick said, restraining the excited dog.
Just offshore, 16 kayakers from the Olympic Peninsula Paddlers Club gathered to watch over the shivering bathers.
Like the polar bear swimmers, the kayakers have made a tradition of the New Year’s Day event, said Gwen Dopp, 59, of Port Angeles.
“We paddle out to watch the plunge, then paddle back for a potluck,” Dopp said.
In Neah Bay, a record 30 New Year’s swimmers were greeted by 40-degree temperatures and a 17 mph wind, resulting in a very chilly dip, said Neah Bay Polar Bear Plunge organizer June Williams.
“It was cold,” Williams said. “They went in, then they were right out.”
Several members of the Neah Bay High School state champion football team took part in the plunge, responding to Williams’ challenge, she said.
The oldest person taking part was 66, she said.
North of Forks, the Lake Pleasant plunge was anything but pleasant.
A wind had dropped the temperature on the lake to the high 30s as 10 polar bear bathers plunged into the wintery lake.
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Port Angeles-based reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
