The Chosen Frozen

"Many were called, but few were frozen" at this year's 6th Annual Lake Tahoe Polar Bear Swim! Our numbers were actually up this year due to some extra persuading (a FREE hamburger lunch to the challenger) and cross ward boundary recruiting. And of course the excuses were high once again:

"I will do it next year for sure." Hmmm, that's funny, that is what you told me last year.
"Unfortunately I am going to be out of town, what day did you say it was going to be again?"
"Are you serious....you actually get in the water?"
"It is going to take more than a hamburger to get me to do that!"
And the common favorite - "You guys are CRAZY!"

This years participants included Rob Lacy the camera man (first year), myself (returning for the 6th year), Jarad Aguilar (returning for the 4th year), Kyle Barker (returning for the 3rd year), Bryce Barker (returning for the 2nd year), CJ Lacy (first year), AJ Corbridge (returning for a 3rd year), Matt Kelly (first year), Shu Ando (first year - Japanese foreign exchange student), Calvin Kelly (first year - future Polar Bear swimmer) and Devon Kelly (first year - made it up to his knees).

The day finally came, Saturday February 8th, with snow still on the ground, the sun shinning in the blue sky as if it was a weekend in July (of course a nice blizzard was preferred)! This year started off with some Lake Tahoe trivia:

How large is Lake Tahoe?

• Lake Tahoe is about 22 miles long and 12 miles wide with 72 miles of shoreline. The surface area covers 191 square miles.
• Lake Tahoe is the 3rd deepest lake in North America and the 10th deepest in the world.
• The floor of Lake Tahoe is 4,580 FEET, which is lower than the surface of the Carson Valley.

How cold is the water?

• The water temp near the surface generally cools to 40 F during Feb and March, and warms to 65 F to 70 F in Aug and Sept.
• Below 600-700 feet, the temp remains a constant 39 F.
• Lake Tahoe never freezes due to a constant mass movement of water from the bottom to the surface.

How much water is in Lake Tahoe?

• The water in Lake Tahoe could cover a flat area the size of California by 14 1/2 inches.
• There is enough to supply everyone in the United States with 50 gallons of water per day for 5 years.
• The amount of water that evaporates from the surface of Lake Tahoe every year could supply a city the size of Los Angeles for 5 years.

Finally, after much stalling, came the death count of 3...2................1, followed by the annual scream as the participants scurried to exit as quickly as they entered.

Was anyone crazy enough to beat the record for a FREE Awful, Awful Hamburger? AJ stepped up the the challenge, but after thinking he was in the water for more than 3 minutes (1 to be exact) he realized that he needed the polar bear blubber that Bro. Kelly possesses.

So what is possible? Upon searching for this answer I came across this Guinness Record - "Wearing only swimming trunks, The Netherlands' Wim Hof was able to endure sub-zero temperatures standing in a tube filled with ice cubes for 66 minutes 4 seconds..."

So, for the sensation of not being able to feel your clothing, or to take on this years challenge of 7 minutes, join "The Chosen Frozen" next year as we break the ice and take the 7th annual Lake Tahoe Polar Bear plunge!

The Polar Bear recruiter,
Colin Kelly