Freezin for a Reason....

Hell is at the bottom of Goose Lake, and save for the hole I jumped into, it is frozen over! Saturday, my friend Kylene and I participated in the Polar Plunge to benefit AK Special Olympics. I had wanted to do a polar plunge since I moved to Alaska...it just seemed like the thing to do...and I did it. And there is no way I can put into words how COLD it was! The temp. that day was 1-2 degrees F, and the water temp of Goose Lake was 31-32 degrees...freezing. We got to the edge of the ice hole, and I seriously wanted to just run away...but in front of all those folks, and in the name of my sponsors, I could not. So, at the count of 3, we jumped. When I hit the water, all the breath was sucked out of me. The cold water felt like it went directly into my bones! Every muscle in my body contracted, and all thoughts vanish. I only wanted to GET OUT. But I had to swim-walk to the ladder. The ladder was metal, and was so cold, my fingers and clothes stuck to it! Thankfully, the firemen were there to help us climb out. I have never been so cold in my life! After I got out, Kylene and I ran to the hot tubs!!!! We soaked for about 10 minutes and then got dressed into our dry clothes and it was over....and I was actually feeling really good! probably from the rush of adrenalin...it was a very cold kind of "high" if you will....bizarrely, I want to do it again! But not soon! Maybe next year....I highly recommend this experience to everyone! Thanks again!