Forecast calls for brutally cold Polar Plunge on Jan. 1
1,200 expected at New Year’s Day swimin Lake George
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. » This year’s New Year’s Day swim in Lake George is for true- blue Polar Bears only.
With overnight temperatures expected to nosedive to minus-16 degrees this week, the Queen of American Lakes will be downright bone- chilling.
The forecast is so frigid that event organizers are hoping the lake doesn’t freeze over before Monday.
“Hopefully it waits until after the 1st,” said Linda Duffy, co- owner of Duffy’s Tavern, the Polar Plunge sponsor and organizer.
If needed, officials will use underwater bubble machines, the kind used to keep docks free of ice, to make sure Shepard Park Beach has open water. Last year, three separate waves of people, about 1,200 in all, raced headlong into the frosty water wearing all kinds of zany outfits such as Superman, and Vikings complete with horned helmets and a large hammer similar to the one carried by Thor.
Bright sunshine, blue skies and temperatures in the upper 30s gave some measure of relief Ariel Santiago of Amsterdam wears a rainbow-colored outfit for the 2017event. His wife, Kathleen, did the face and body painting for him. Santiago wore the costume to support people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
from the ice-cold dousing.
However, that won’t be the case this year as the forecast calls for a high of 10 degrees on Monday.
“An Arctic air mass will be in place until next week,” said John Quinlan, National Weather Service meteorologist in Albany. “It’s not unheard of, but a prolonged stretch like this is unusual.”
Temperatures were expected to hit minus-12 degrees Wednesday night, then plummet to 16-below Thursday night, with no relief in sight well into next week.
“It’s going to be brutally cold,” Quinlan said.
The l ate Charles “Papa Bear” Albert, who founded the Polar Plunge, would be proud.
Pre- registration is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 at Duffy’s Tavern in Lake George. People may also register on Jan. 1, beginning at 10:30 a.m., at Duffy’s Tavern.
In a slight change from previous years, the entry fee is less ($10) and does not include a T-shirt. All entry fee proceeds will go to Lake George Fire Department and Shriners International, whose children’s hospitals help kids throughout the U.S.
T- shirts may be purchased for an additional $10. All of this money will pay for shirts and the cost of hosting the Polar Plunge, which includes insurance.
Capital Region Rotarians get pledges from sponsors and make the Plunge to raise money to eradicate polio around the world.
Amanda Sadera, of Austin, Texas, was among the Polar Bears who took part last year.
“The feeling is unbelievable, exhilarating, unlike anything else,” she said. “It’s a great way to start the year.”
For helpful tips on what to wear and what to expect go to: https://www.lakegeorge.com/polar-plunge/.
For more information, call Duffy’s Tavern at (518) 668-5323.
For a full listing of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events in Lake George go to: http://www. lakegeorgechamber.com/events/.