Icy splash

Near subzero temperatures didn't deter nearly 70 people from taking a leap into the frigid waters of Clark Fork River on New Year's Day as part of the 7th Annual Polar Bear Splash in Thompson Falls.

It was another record this year, according to Jerry Pauli, the chief organizer of the Jan. 1 event, who said 61 people signed up for the Polar Splash. Pauli believes there were a few more people who didn't sign in, but took the plunge. Last year's Polar Splash was 46 people and was also a record year; in 2005, there were 25. Prior to that, the numbers usually floated around a dozen or less. Because of the steady increase in numbers, Pauli has decided to make the event next year part of the nationwide Polar Bear Plunge, a fund-raiser for Special Olympics.

People from 6 years old to their late 60s braved the cold at Goose Landing on the east end of Thompson Falls at 1 p.m. New Year's Day while nearly the same number of spectators stood along the beach to cheer on the swimmers, provide towels, blankets or dry clothing, or were simply showed up to watch "the crazy people take a swim," as one onlooker said.

"It was actually nice this year," said Pauli, who wore his traditional padded Viking cap for the event. "No wind, and that makes a difference." Pauli, among the first few in the water, was in an out in less than a minute, like most participants. Very few lingered in the water.

The air temperature was about 11 degrees, but the water temperature was about 30 degrees, said the 62-year-old Pauli, who took a reading before the swim. The Thompson Falls School superintendent also broke away ice at the beach entry point about 30 minutes before the event while Thompson Falls resident Dale Peters set up an aluminum ladder at the end of the dock.

This year's swimmers included first-timers to veteran Polar Splashers. Most of the people were from Thompson Falls, Trout Creek and Plains, but Pauli said there may have been people from other communities. The Turning D Ranch, a school for troubled teens, had 11 students participate in the Polar Splash.

Pauli gave out a few last minute pieces of advice to the crowd just before the event, such as wearing some type of footwear, not wearing a heavy sweatshirt because they're tough to get off when soaked. He also warned people not to immediately get into a hot tub after the swim. "It'll feel like your toes are going to burst," he said.

The swimmers lined up on the shore and along the near 20-foot long wooden dock as Pauli gave a countdown. Some, such as Pauli, took the slow way by walking into the water, while many chose to jump off the city dock or climb down the ladder. A couple of teenagers went in twice. Susan Henderson, 19, a Florida resident, inched her way down the ladder, urged on by Dave Hedley, a Sanders County Sheriff's Office reserve deputy, who was on hand in a diving wet suit this year in case of problems. Henderson, one of the last to go in, climbed down the ladder until she was able to dip her face into the water, then scrambled up the ladder to a dry towel on shore.

"It's always a shock," said Peters, a veteran jumper, who chose a leap off the end of the dock again this year. Hedley's wife, Holly, who took the plunge for the first time, said she'll do it again next year. She climbed down the ladder, but said she'll probably have a different strategy next year. Libby resident Jan Ivers, who started the Polar Splash, decided to take part in this year's swim.

The entire event was over in less than eight minutes and within another three minutes, nearly every vehicle, loaded with shivering swimmers, was gone.

Hedley, the Sanders County coordinator for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, another Special Olympic fund-raiser, said he'll be helping with next year's Polar Plunge. This year's dip came with a Polar Bear Splash 2008 beach towel, donated by Taylor Services of Thompson Falls. Pauli ordered only 30 towels because he was unsure of how many people would participate, but he took names of those people who jumped in an effort to make sure everyone gets one. One year, Bob Taylor, of Taylor Services, used his backhoe to break up thick ice at Goose Landing for the event.

Pauli also moved the start time of the Polar Splash to 1 p.m. in order to give those in the New Year's Day Fun Run, which began at 11 a.m., a chance to get there.