Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Quadra Island Boat Tour Contest
    • Vacay in Victoria Contest
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
    • Amateur Video Creator of the Year
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Quadra Island Boat Tour Contest
    • Vacay in Victoria Contest
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
    • Amateur Video Creator of the Year
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / Yukon ice swimmers take the plunge

Olivier Pellegrin soaks in the icy waters of Chadburn Lake near Whitehorse on Jan. 30. Crystal Schick/Yukon News photo

Yukon ice swimmers take the plunge

February 14, 2021 //  by Gabrielle Plonka

Share this:

A group of Yukoners have gathered weekly this winter at Chadburn Lake in sub-zero temperatures, removed layers of parkas and sweaters, and gone swimming.

For some, the frequent polar dips lend the rush of feeling alive. For others, longer-term benefits of pain relief and improved mental health draw them in. Many have discovered the benefits of all three.

Scott Boone says he was hooked after his first dip on Jan. 1 and now tries to swim weekly.

“First, it was a bucket list item… Then I noticed a lot of my 40-plus years of aches and pains left.”

Boone says a knee injury that had ailed him for six months ceased to be painful after plunging.

“My mood increased, I look at things totally different,” he says. “My kids said to me, ‘You’re not nearly as grumpy as you used to be since you started this ice swimming.’”

READ MORE: 3 Wild Yukon excursions for your dog sled bucket list

The community of Yukon ice swimmers formed serendipitously this year, according to ad hoc organizer James Paterson.

Paterson was a member of a local wild swimming community over the summer. When autumn encroached, and others hung up their trunks for the season, Paterson wasn’t ready to stop swimming.

“It became more of a funny thing that we were continuing to swim, even though ice was starting to build on the lake,” Paterson says.

“I swore I wouldn’t be that crazy guy out in the middle of the lake with a chainsaw, but now that’s exactly what I’ve become.”

READ MORE: Hot spots for hot springs, from the Yukon to California

The activity was addictive, and word-of-mouth grew the ice swimmers’ Facebook group to nearly 100 members in just a few months. Each swimmer shows up for different reasons, Paterson notes.

“I like it because I’m a free diver and I like to go under the water,” Paterson says. “I think the majority of us really enjoy the stress relief.”

Extensive peer-reviewed research exists on ice swimming.

A 2020 scientific review published by medical universities in Canada and Europe noted that cold water swimming for its health benefits dates back to 400 BC.

It cites previous studies that discovered improvements to blood pressure, hormone gland functioning, mood disorders and general well-being. It also noted that ice swimming can lead to fewer upper respiratory tract infections and improve rheumatism, fibromyalgia and asthma.

“There is rising evidence that winter swimmers are more resistant to certain illnesses and infections, experiencing them less frequently and more mildly,” the review continues.

The release of stress hormones from cold exposure can strengthen the immune system, researchers explain.

The article warns that potential cardiac and pulmonary risks can arise for swimmers, depending on water temperature and swimmers’ pre-existing conditions. The most significant risk is hypothermia, though various estimates show most people can survive sub-zero water for 45 minutes.

The Yukon ice swimmers usually don’t dip for longer than 15 minutes, with new swimmers happy to submerge themselves for less than five.

“I find 10 minutes is fine for myself,” Paterson says, noting that seasoned swimmers grow “more uncomfortable” past the 15 minute mark.

“I want to stress that it’s not a competition, everybody is different,” he adds.

Kirk Burke submerged himself for just under two minutes during his first dip on Jan. 30. He was inspired by the Wim Hof Method, which combines meditation and cold water exposure for decreased stress and increased energy.

Burke took up Wim Hof to aid his psoriasis and pandemic anxiety, and found even cold showers were helpful for both. His first dip wasn’t painful, but it was challenging to get his breathing under control.

“All day, and maybe a little bit in the next day, it was kind of a natural high,” Burke says.

Anne Huang was also drawn to ice swimming through the Wim Hof Method. Cold therapy helps the side-effects of her lupus medication, she says.

“It also helps with general aches and joint pains associated with my lupus. It also makes me appreciate how strong, physically and mentally, I really am.”

Kelli Anderson’s first 30-second swim was both “terrifying and terrific.” After more than 10 swims, she can stay in the water for about seven minutes.

“I focus on my breathing and my mind clears … all the worries and stress fade away,” Anderson says.

Paterson recommends that first-time swimmers have warm clothes close and ready.

“The feeling of invincibility lasts for two or three minutes but it’s critical swimmers capitalize on that period of time, though it’s tempting to stand on the ice and say, ‘I feel bullet-proof,’” Paterson says.

Getting dressed quickly alleviates the risk of frostbite, he explains. Many swimmers also dip in neoprene diving boots to keep toes a more comfortable temperature in the water.

New swimmers should always swim with others who can spot them while in the water. The community support of the ice swimmers group provides this, and there are near-daily posts in that group planning the next group swim.

More adventurous swimmers can also join the group of four, including Paterson and Boone, who regularly free dive below the ice surface. Paterson is organizing a free diving course for next September, with a cold-water component, to strengthen their safety procedures and bring more people into the sport.

***

Please note that Provincial Health Protocols currently advise against travelling outside your region to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Plan your future adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: Canada, Swimming, Visit Yukon

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Ross Street Patio celebrates 10th anniversary with special brew

Red Deer’s Ross Street Patio is celebrating its 10th anniversary with some special suds. The…

Ross Street Patio celebrates 10th anniversary with special brewRead More

Flightfest set to soar once again over Chilliwack

Chilliwack Flightfest will take to the skies once again for this summer. The free airshow…

Flightfest set to soar once again over ChilliwackRead More

‘Hike Our Story’ in epic Kootenay Boundary challenge

A new hiking challenge launched in the Kootenay Boundary is motivating residents as well as…

‘Hike Our Story’ in epic Kootenay Boundary challengeRead More

Vancouver Island treetop retreat tops Airbnb list of Canada’s best new hosts

This treetop destination is a great place to hang out for a getaway to remember.…

Vancouver Island treetop retreat tops Airbnb list of Canada’s best new hostsRead More

Adäka Cultural Festival returning to Whitehorse this summer

The Adäka Cultural Festival celebrates its 10th year in person this year with the theme…

Adäka Cultural Festival returning to Whitehorse this summerRead More

Singletrack or cross-country, your 2-wheel Cariboo adventure starts here

Boasting a spectacular mix of rides, from steep mountain trails to epic cross-country routes, few…

Singletrack or cross-country, your 2-wheel Cariboo adventure starts hereRead More

World invited back to Parksville beach as sandcastles poised to make a return

Parksville Beach Festival Society has unveiled a list of seven teams and 15 individual sand…

World invited back to Parksville beach as sandcastles poised to make a returnRead More

UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams Lake

Brandi Magnus and her husband Jim McIntyre are grateful to be off from work, but…

UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams LakeRead More

Canadians hold nose at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again

Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for…

Canadians hold nose at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once againRead More

Previous Post: « Ice volcanoes erupt along the shores of Okanagan Lake
Next Post: Kelowna restaurant’s TV premiere shines spotlight on Okanagan »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Ross Street Patio celebrates 10th anniversary with special brew

May 19, 2022

Flightfest set to soar once again over Chilliwack

May 17, 2022

‘Hike Our Story’ in epic Kootenay Boundary challenge

May 17, 2022

Vancouver Island treetop retreat tops Airbnb list of Canada’s best new hosts

May 17, 2022

Recent Posts

Ross Street Patio celebrates 10th anniversary with special brew

May 19, 2022

Flightfest set to soar once again over Chilliwack

May 17, 2022

‘Hike Our Story’ in epic Kootenay Boundary challenge

May 17, 2022

Vancouver Island treetop retreat tops Airbnb list of Canada’s best new hosts

May 17, 2022

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2022 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved