A photo of the Polar Bear Plunge, Seward, Alaska

[Blue_In_AK]

Seward holds an annual winter festival/fund raiser for cancer research wherein the participants promise to jump into the icy waters of Resurrection Bay in exchange for pledges from their friends and family. This year the 150 jumpers collected over $100,000. The air temperature was around 30 degrees, the water probably around 40 degrees, and there was a fairly stiff breeze.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Omigod, these people are crazy!

It makes me cold just looking at it!

Thanks for sharing the craziness... :scared:

[Kali]

2. looks like everybody is having fun

love the hula outfit:rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

4. The costumes were outstanding.

Check out these two from the parade...



Here they are jumping into the water.

[Kali]

5. oh those are great!

thanks for posting these!

[Terra Alta]

3. I know it's for a good cause...

but I don't think I could ever do that! Those people are far more braver than me!

[Broken_Hero]

6. Man, one of these dayz

I'll be there to "teach" them how to do it right...

:D

[marzipanni]

7. I'd like to see how fast they get out!

In the second photo in #4 I see some people in diving gear... are they ready to fish out anyone paralyzed by the cold, or worse. :scared:

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Yes, there were four or five rescue divers

and several paramedics on hand, but there were no mishaps, as far as I know.