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The earliest I intentionally swam was April 20th I think. In the northwest, spring is much more variable than fall. Summer-like weather is more common than in fall, but so is winter-like weather. Anyways, one time in April we hit 84 degrees and I went swimming in Lacamas Lake, a man made lake in Camas, WA. There's a rope swing hanging from a tree that's fun to jump off of. The water is quite shallow, so it warms up and cools off quickly. If you go at 6pm on an 80+ degree day, the water is pretty warm. The latest was last year on October 5th. I went at 3pm. It was too cold to go all the way in. Generally speaking, Lacamas is fair game from May to September. A half an hour north of Vancouver is Moulton Falls, an unforgiving series of waterfalls. I only swim there between July 4th and Labor Day.
One time in February I went clamming in Long Beach, WA. I tripped and fell in the water. That's why I say "intentionally" swimming.
I still consider January 6 in the "cooling off" (to the coldest part of winter, which is around January 15) period. So it's still considered "late" IMO. I think the dividing line should be January 15/16.
Yes, I think so as well and in that year there had been no real winter cold (in my Dfb climate sense) till 6th but later parts of January weather coldened significantly and we got a real winter cold.
Some days ago I occasionally found from a book some new information about my climate here and occured that here the coldest period of the year here is 13-18 January, so you are very correct.
In recent memory, last year I swam in the Atlantic Ocean from a relatively early date to a relatively late date. I first swam in the ocean on June 9, 2012, and the final time that year on September 13, 2012. The ocean was warmer in mid-September, no doubt. Early June is generally not the best time to swim in the ocean because it's still too cold, although everybody is dying to by that time. September can still be pretty nice, on the other hand, but everyone's mostly done with the beach by then. I honestly don't remember if I've been in any earlier or later than last year. I don't think I ever was. In 2013, I first swam in the ocean on July 7, and it was awful. Lower 60s. I last swam in the ocean this year on August 25 and 26, and it was very, very nice. Probably mid-70s.
Latest date swimming in the ocean has changed for me as of today to September 19th. Not bad.. it was in the lower 70s... I've experienced much worse in July and August.
I used to live on Vancouver Island and did the Polar Bear Swim every New Year's, so I guess that would be the "earliest". The water was not that cold, maybe 50F/10C. Latest I've ever swam in the fall is probably October. Georgia Strait is actually warmest in September, above 70F in places.
I've never done a polar bear plunge and I wouldn't do one willingly without a wetsuit. (Unless, perhaps, it was a dare & there was some monetary incentive to do it.)
I've never done a polar bear plunge and I wouldn't do one willingly without a wetsuit. (Unless, perhaps, it was a dare & there was some monetary incentive to do it.)
It feels like being stabbed all over your body. So..I guess I don't exactly recommend it. Kind of fun though and it only lasts a couple minutes.
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