Sophia Martinsen, left, Arne Dahl and Kelsey Leak exit Shoemaker Harbor after participating in the Polar Plunge on Jan. 1.
About 54 people wade into the chilly water to take the challenge, an annual tradition for 20 years in Wrangell.
For about 20 years on New Year's Day, some of the bravest in the community gather to prove their mettle by wading into the frigid water of Shoemaker Harbor for the aptly named Polar Plunge.
This year was no different.
On Jan. 1, about 54 people of all ages walked into waist-deep water and then submerged up to their necks. The goal was to reach one minute. Most made it, some gave up soon after getting in.
"I did it last year. It wasn't that bad. I had a wetsuit on, but all my friends said I was cheating," said 13-year-old Sophia Martinsen. This year, she wore shorts, a shirt and sweater to take the challenge.
Event coordinator Liz Buness said the number of people participating has grown since Clay Hammer and Don McConachie started the fun two decades ago. There were originally five to seven dippers back then, growing to 15 when Buness jumped in.
"My kids thought I was nuts doing this 'polar dip thing,' but soon they were joining in for the dip, too," she said. "Now even my granddaughters do it."
Along with those who went in the water this year, more than 100 spectators watched from the relative warmth of the shore.
Wrangell newcomers Ted Nielson and Amanda Patten entered the water slowly following the larger crowd, then slowly made their way out. Just as the Utah transplants made a fresh start here at the end of 2021, they made a fresh, cold start to the new year.
"It's a new start, it's a fresh beginning, right?" Nielson said.
Buness hopes to keep the yearly tradition alive. She took over coordinating last year since, she said, it appeared it wasn't going to happen. Though she puts in plenty of her own time, Buness said it's a true community effort.
"(Wrangell Coast Guard Auxiliary) members Shirley Wimberley and Dale Parkinson helped me pull this together, as well as John and Cindy Martin, and families like the Edens and Messmers, and folks like Kem and Susan Haggard, Janet Strom," Buness said. "People just show up and say, 'What can I do?' It's really amazing the way people come together."
Prizes were donated for a raffle, volunteers cooked hot dogs and prepared hot cider for everyone, and fire pits were manned to keep the crowd as warm as possible.
"It's just fun. It's fun for participants. It's fun for spectators. It's fun for helpers. It's just fun," Buness said.
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