Polar Plunge Lake George

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/4/0/0/event_74514272.jpegLAKE GEORGE NY -- Every year, hundreds gather on the frosty shores of Lake George for a daring New Years Day swim, known as the Polar Plunge. On Tuesday, January 1, 2013, that tradition continues at Shepard Park Beach where about 850 participants are expected to take part in the Lake George Polar Plunge.

The annual Lake George Polar Plunge has been a popular tradition for years, occurring on "First Day" in Lake George, and marks the kick-off of each year's Winter Carnival, which runs through the end of February. Nearly a thousand people crowd Shepard Park Beach in their swimming trunks and bikinis for the event, shivering and dancing around to stay warm before the countdown to the big plunge. Then all at once, they rush into the bone-chilling waters for a New Year's polar bear swim!

Shepard Park Beach is located on Canada Street in Lake George Village. When Is The Plunge? At 2:00pm on January 1st each year, hundreds of human polar bears take to the water.

Registration for the 2013 Lake George Polar Plunge begins at 10:00am at Duffy's Tavern, before participants hit the icy winter waters of Lake George at 2 pm. It is free to register for this event, however if you purchase a long-sleeve t-shirt for $10 the proceeds go to the winter carnival and the food banks for the three churches in Lake George.

Wondering what it's like? Winter in Lake George is no mild climate, so the waters are frigid and just barely above freezing temperature. In some years, there has even been a thin film of ice to swim though. It is COLD!

After the plunge, stop by the L.L.Bean tent to say hi and warm up with some complimentary hot cocoa and hand warmers!!