Polar Plunging
 

Has anyone gave a try to jumping into a body of water while there was snow and ice to be had? I'm interested in giving it a go... maybe. I know it's gotta be one of the stupider things people do but figured it might be quite a fun chance of pace to try. There's a good few cities within range that hold the events to benefit the Special Olympics. It's always good to raise a few bucks for something like that but I'm kinda interested in going out to my favorite swimming hole with a friend or two instead. I'll keep post updates to my quest if I do indeed go though with this.

What I've been told soo far is that getting back out of the water is the worse part. It takes three or so minutes of being under water until things start getting real bad... reading the stuff about cold water survival ain't to pretty however the polar plunge event pages don't really say much about the safety aspect but it's clear that they have ample emergency personnel on hand.

I'm curious to hear your stories and recommendations as to how to do this, what to bring and how to warm back up quickly... would you do it again?


Also... since this is more of a thing you do once just to do it... might be fun to do it sans-cloths to kill two birds with one stone :thumbsup:




http://chicago.metromix.com/content_...692882/560/370

http://chicago.metromix.com/content_...692884/560/370

I've done one before. you don't know cold until you have a WET cold. After a bit you try to get your body to move and it just doesn't respond.

The quickest way to get warm is to completely strip out of everything wet and get dry clothes pronto.

Go in naked, or nearly so, and if you don't have a towel, roll in the snow afterward to dry off fast, then put your dry clothes on. Voila.

Where's the sauna? :D

I've never dared to go ice swimming. I think the idea is to stay in cold water only for a short while. Sauna before and after is essential part of the 'hobby' here, but the variation in temperature may be dangerous for you heart. Reumatic people often find ice swimming relieving their pains.

I love how they're complaining that the ice water is cold. aDuUuUUhHHhhhHhHh!!!


No matter what you should be prepared for major shrinkage. You shouldn't attempt this in front of any ladies you may be trying to impress. :thumbsup:

I forgot about the shrinkage issue... Guess it would be smart only let it be in view prior to jumping in :)

I've went swimming in Lake Michigan in February because I was bored and stupid and off the coast of Iceland in January because Uncle Sam told me to...
* There is no 2 or 3 minutes wait time for it to get 'bad'. When you go from dry to complete immersion, your muscles cramp up almost immediately.
* Rolling in snow after (while it may work) is a stupid idea. I'm sure you've had your fingers stick to ice cubes or frozen peas reaching into your freezer, why would you risk ice crystals sticking to other more tender areas?
* Nude is NOT the way to go. Tight clothes are best. Your skin will warm the layer of water between you and the clothing. Same principle as a wetsuit.

ooo boy it's cold out. went to get gas earlier and really was feeling it, went and got gloves before I finished pumping :-) I've forgot just how much I hate winter!

My idea, if I were to go though with this, would just be a quick in and out, chest high, in and right back out... not going to try and see how long I would be able to last! At most, 15 seconds of exposure. My thought was that due to the short duration, the less cloths you are wearing would mean the quicker you can towel all the water off and put your dry cloths back on. Having cloths on will just keep the water on you a bit longer when you get out and all the more seconds until you dry off. Wouldn't be opposed to wearing life jackets while doing this either as they will be in the area to begin with.

been there,done that,no fucking need to do it again.

I did it once on a dare. It wasn't the worst discomfort I've felt but it was up there.

I SCUBA a lot and in Michigan in the winter...I get wet/cold. I have a rubber drysuit (mmm...rubber) but your face still falls off eventually.

Well... didn't get anyone lured out to the lake this weekend... it also turned out that the ice was too thick to even throw a rock though. Maybe I'll save this idea for the spring!

Whenever unsure, do as the K-Man does, for most of his ideas stem from/towards invigoration, for he is life, and ...