Lake Leaping in Luray

On Saturday morning I drove down to Arrowhead Park in Luray to witness their first ever Polar Plunge. They were raising funds for Page County's Alliance for Community Action whose mission is to promote the drug-free, healthy and positive development of youth and families through community collaboration and prevention based initiatives, and announced that 93 persons with no aversions to cold water had registered. The weather forecast had just a couple of days ago promised temperatures in the low 30's with snow flurries, but today that had improved to no snow, but with a breeze keeping the digits at below 35. I wrapped up in a scarf and jacket, shivering at the thought of these folks voluntarily splashing into the lake. The sky was heavy with dark clouds making me wonder that the promised snow might make an appearance after all but the sun battled its way through the gloom, occasionally flinging some warm rays on the sand.

 There was only a small crowd when I arrived and I promptly made for one of the oil drums that were spouting welcoming warm flames. A couple of gas heaters stood on the sand but their feeble heat could barely be felt. Little groups clustered together as they helped each other get changed, keeping warm layers on top of their skimpy costumes. The 'plungers' were given an embroidered fleece to wrap around their shoulders, and all were used. A few hardy folks wandered about in scant outfits; I marveled at their hardiness, especially as they showed no gooseflesh at all. I would have been a quivering mess in their position.

As the plunge time neared more people arrived, who had likely been sitting in their warm homes or cars as long as possible before braving the inevitable moment. Out of the 93 registered, 88 had turned up and were now posing for photos along the shoreline. I chatted with a young couple who I assumed were brother and sister, quiet and really well mannered. I took to them immediately. She was dressed in a Neptune-esque dress while he was part of a penguin group. They sat quietly on a bench, shivering in their porous clothing. Another lady was here who took part in the polar plunge at Virginia Beach every year, so this was her second of the season. Wearing a tutu and bunny ears she was all smiles while her husband shivered patiently by one of the oil drums.

The announcer told everyone to get ready and the plungers turned towards the water, every face etched with anxiety and dread. But their agony was prolonged when there was suddenly an almighty splash and one of the kayakers tipped out of his boat. There had been 2 gentlemen in kayaks holding a position that the plungers shouldn't pass, and supposedly offering help if needed. I'd watched them earlier getting into their boats, wondering if they had wet suits on under their jeans and jackets, they didn't look that well prepared for kayaking in freezing water. and now one of them had fallen out. A huge cheer went up from everyone on the shore, including me, as we watched him splash about trying to gain a foothold. It wasn't deep so nobody was really concerned but a life guard swan out to help in just in case. They both pulled the kayak back to shore and once again the crowd on the shore readied itself for plunging. The whistle blew and they were off. I was impressed that not one single person faltered or decided to keep their toes in the sand. Everyone lunged and plunged into that numbingly glacial and arctic water.

With their arms held high, as though trying to keep some of their bodies out of the water, they rushed and screamed, battling against their initial shock. It seemed only a couple of minutes had passed after wading out to the iceberg they then lunged their way back to shore. Their resolve to get back on the beach was so strong that they caused a wave of water to rush up onto the sand as they passed me, my boots and jeans getting soaked in the process. Here's the young lad making his way back, one of only a few that managed a smile. Many were wincing and grimacing, faces contorted with the effort of pushing through the frigid lake, struggling and battling to get back onto the warmer land where towels and fleeces could be snatched to wrap about them. Many were holding prizes, held aloft like trophies. These had been attached to the blue and white iceberg that had floated in the water at the beginning of the plunge and was now simply a flattened soggy mess floating sadly on the surface of the water after having been pulled apart by the crowd.

The poor little Neptune girl was obviously struggling with the freezing water, but she did it. She managed to drag herself onto the beach a short time after her brother, gasping with the cold. I asked her if she'd do it again next year and without any hesitation she yelled, "NO!!"

The plungers' hardiness was very apparent,it seemed almost immediately that their faces, pinched in pain and shock just a few minutes before,  were now beaming with triumph and joy. They had faced that icy demon and won, raising money for their local community. It was now a time of celebration, excited chatter while drinking hot chocolate and cider while chewing on home made cookies. A few rushed straight to their cars but most remained on the sand,enjoying their well deserved attention and accolades. I didn't stay long myself. My feet were wet and I was feeling the cold. I too headed for my warm car, wondering how many of the brave souls from today would return next year.