Seattle's Official (Un-Official) Polar Bear Plunge Site* see disclaimer

Thank You 2012 Polar Bear Plungers!

2012-01-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

We had an amazing plunge this year at Matthews Beach, Seattle, with record attendance and new features for plungers' enjoyment. January 1st was a beautiful sunny day-despite the frigidity of the water. We put on music from the Beach Boys in the background and many were grooving to the beat.

More Polar Bears plunged than ever before: we estimate the total to be more than 1500 plungers, not counting for the many spectators that showed up to cheer them on. People showed up dressed in costumes and the Seattle Fire Department's Fire Boat pointed all of its water spouts in the air and rotated like a rotating fountain. After the plunge at noon, the plungers received The Polar Bear Patch (cold badge of courage) and were welcomed to hot cups of joe, cocoa, and hot Tang (the official Polar Bear beverage of choice).

We officially, un-officially, thank many of the local Starbucks stores for donating hot beverages and also Harbor Patrol and the Seattle Fire Department for gracing our plunge with their presence. Furthermore, we thank all staff in Seattle Parks and Recreation for collaborating to host another wonderful event! If you want to visit some of the staff, please stop and swim at Meadowbrook Pool in the Northeast end of Seattle. Our schedule can be found here: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/aquatics/Pools/meadowbrook/schedule.htm

To your right you will see links to videos, photos, and articles of 2012's plunge. There is even an unofficial Facebook group for the Polar Bear Plunge at Matthews Beach. These media were all submitted by you. If you have more, please comment below with you link! With one more year under our belt, we look forward to making the 2013 Polar Bear Plunge to be the best ever (Mayan calendar willing)!

P.S. Like Meadowbook Pool's Facebook Page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Meadowbrook-Pool/157347577650299

Who wants to be on TV?

2011-12-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

King 5 just called.
They are looking for people, in costume or bathing suits, that are going to be at the Space Needle on New Year's Eve. You have to be willing to explain why jumping in the lake on Jan 1 is so much fun.
And answer other questions about The Plunge.
By the way...
Has anyone seen the girl that wears the cow costume???
So, if this appeals to you and you're not shy in front of a camera, leave a message in the comments and I will tell you what to do...

There's no turning back now...

2011-12-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2012 is almost here....

and with only 3 days to go the Polar Bear Plunge preparations are being checked off the "to-do" list right and left.

The water is a "warm(ish )" 47 degrees and the extended forcast isn't showing any signs of snow or rain.

If you've ever wanted to do the plunge with a screaming mass of humanity that instantly becomes your new best-friends - then this is the year to do it!

And this year is going to be our 10th Anniversary so an extra special Badge 'O Courage has been created to help mark the occassion.

Wouldn't you like to be one of the "lucky" 1500 people that willing goes into Lake Washington up to your neck?

Come on...

you know you want to do it!

Happy New Year - 2011 - Seattle

2011-01-05T18:34:00.000-08:00

It was sunny and cold. The water was 46 but the air was only 29 degrees. Luckily there was no wind chill.

We love you too!

This picture gave us paws.

Papa Bear and cubs.

Seattle Parks and Recreation lifeguards hard at work and trying to stay warm.

And the bathrooms will be open too!

2010-12-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

Today's temperature is 35 degrees outside and 47 degrees in the water. We will have lots of coffee, hot chocolate and Hot Tang...the beverage of choice for Polar Bears everywhere.

Snow

2010-12-29T13:01:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be great if we had snow on New Year's Day?

Cold Badges of Courage are here!

2010-01-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

If you didn't get your Badge of Courage I am happy to tell you that they just arrived and they are here at Meadowbrook Pool so if you can come by and pick yours up - that would be great.

But if you need us to mail one to you please call the pool, 206.684.4989, to let us know your address.

Did you remember to take the Polar Bear Pledge?

It goes like this: raise your right paw and say "I, _______, do shiveringly swear that I braved the icey waters of Lake Washington in Seattle, on January 1, 2010, up to my neck, and have hereby earned this Commemerative Cold Badge of Courage."

Please remember...

These badges are given out according to the honor system so we are trusting all of you out there to only take one if you have earned it.

We ran out of our Badge of Cold Courage!

2010-01-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

Don't worry Mr. Bear, we'll be getting more badges soon.

We had a record number of people! So COOL! Next year I will order 1200 Badges! I promise.

It was awesome!!! There were so many people!!! We will be ordering more badges so PLEASE call Meadowbrook Pool, 206-684-4989, and leave your phone number and address with our cashier or on our voice mail.

Happy New Year! 2010 is officially here!

2010-01-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

Shortly after midnight the buoy markers in the lake indicated that the weather is 45 degrees and the water is still at 46 degrees.

I'll bring the thermometer from the pool to see if it is any different near the shore and we'll check the air temp too.

I'm also bringing a 5 gallon Cambro of Hot Tang because it is the "official" beverage of choice for Polar Bears. Starbucks is providing us with hot coffee, regular and decaf. Yay!

Please come back to this post and leave a message....it's fun and special to hear from other Plungers.

Less than 24 Hours to go!

2009-12-31T12:15:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for the Plunge?
The lake is nice and cold, bathrooms are working, hot coffee is being donated by Starbucks, the Badge O' Courage is really cute and the lifeguards have promised to go to bed early tonight.
If this is your first plunge or you just need a reminder about what to do, here's the game plan:

1. Find a place to park.
2. Get a wrist band, they are numbered and help us know how many people come.
3. Stay warm.
4. Wait for the count down to plunging.
5. Get your Badge O' Courage from one of our volunteers. But only if you've managed to submerge up to your neck. Please - no diving - it's too shallow! Lst year a guy tried that and he needed stitches.
6. Have something hot to drink, take pictures, hug people and have a good time.
7. After you get home please come back to this blog and leave a comment on the January 1 post.

Here's some more details about the Polar Bear Plunge...just in case we have some new folks this year.

2009-12-17T16:08:00.001-08:00

The Best Way to Start 2010 is by Coming to the
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE!
Matthews Beach Park • January 1, 2010 at Noon
Park entrance is at the corner of NE 93rd St. and Sand Point Way NE
We jump in the water at High Noon as a group to welcome in the New Year with a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. Come wash off the old year and start the New Year right! Costumes and festive energy are encouraged.
Warm refreshments will be served and a Commemorative Badge of Courage will be awarded to all those who brave the icy waters of Lake Washington up to their necks.
And we’ll once again feature the new "Polar Cub Club." It’s a special time just before the polar bear plunge, for younger folks or people who need a little bit more room.
Sensible safety tips:
• Anyone with heart problems—just watch.
• Do not drink—alcohol does not warm you up; it accelerates hypothermia.
• Do not stay in the water longer than 15 minutes. Body heat is lost 25 times faster in water than in air.
• Do not remove your clothing until swim time and remove wet clothing before getting back into dry clothes.
The Polar Bear Plunge is sponsored by Meadowbrook Pool and Advisory Council and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Lake Washington

2009-12-16T12:44:00.000-08:00

We just learned from one of our lap swimmers that the current temperature of the lake is 46 degrees.
It needs to get colder, don't you think?

Let the count down begin!

2009-12-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

Only 27 more days until the annual Polar Bear Plunge at Matthews Beach on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle WA.

As in other years, there will be a Badge O' Courage for all those who brave the icy waters up to their necks.

We are hoping to have Hot Beverages too but so far we are having trouble finding donations.

In an effort to help younger participants we have started a "Polar Bear Cub Club" and we will have a special time for kids (or people needing a little more space and calmness) a pre-frenzy opportunity to take the plunge.

Look for yourself in the following picture. If you see yourself you win a "Free" snowball!

Polar Bear Plunge 2010

2009-11-30T13:15:00.000-08:00

Same time.
Same Place.

Be there.

The Polar Bear Plunge is still on!

2008-12-24T15:07:00.000-08:00

Lots of folks have been wondering about the Polar Bear Plunge because of all the crazy weather we have been having.
The answer is "Heck Yea!"
I've ordered 1000 Badges 'O Courage and they are really cool - this year could be the coldest so don't miss the plunge of 2009!
We will also have pre-numbered wristbands to help us keep track of numbers and everyone can come to this blog later to log in your experiences.

If the weather is really foul on Jan 1 we will let people jump in early and leave if they don't want to hang around. You can still earn a Badge 'O Courage.
But for everyone that wants the bonding experience there will still be the group plunge at High Noon.

(You may also want to bring your own hot beverage too....we are having hard time getting coffee donations)

See you soon!

Polar Bear Plunge 2009

2008-11-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks! January 1 is just around the corner! The Polar Bear Plunge is still on for Jan 1, High Noon at Matthews Beach.
Watch here for more info.
Janet

It's already Jan 22, 2008

2008-01-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

and it is hard to believe that the Polar Bear Plunge was just 3 short weeks ago! All of us at Meadowbrook Pool and beyond would like to thank everyone for coming to the event.
We know we had around 1000 people because of the numbered wrist bands that were handed out and by the number of badges that we have left. There aren't very many.
It was great to see so many costumes and people were in great spirits. We want to thank Starbucks for sending such a great team of people to make hot drinks for everyone and we sure hope we can get them back again next year.
Hope everyone is experiencing a great 2008!

Seattle's 6th Annual Polar Bear Plunge!

2007-12-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

This is the place to sign-in and share your experience jumping in Lake Washington.
We want to hear from you!
What's your name?
Where are you from?
How old are you (optional)?
Was this your first?
How did you like it?
Will we see you next year, and the year after that?

Please keep it clean. We want kids to be able to participate here too.
Thanks!