More Than a Thousand to Take Polar Plunge

Freezing dip in Goose Lake benefits Special Olympics

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Dec 17, 2011 at 9:03 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Dec 17, 2011 at 9:03 AM AKDT

Hundreds of Anchorage residents will be “freezin’ for a reason” as they participate in the third annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Saturday.

But before they can take a dip in Goose Lake, firefighters have to make sure they have a hole to jump into.

The thundering chainsaws aren’t just cutting through the silence at Goose Lake. Sawing through 14 solid inches of ice isn’t an easy task – that’s why firefighter Mike Hettrick is pleased he’s not alone. “Normally I’m out here with a pretty sparse team,” Hettrick said. “This year, I’ve got a lot of people, and the hold seems to get bigger every year because we have more participants, which is awesome.

The hole is 15 by 20 feet. The chainsaw showers crew with a little taste of the icy water that awaits the plungers. But they say it’s worth it to help out such a great cause.

Organizers expect up to 5,000 people will spend their last Saturday before Christmas spreading holiday cheer to everyone plunging for Special Olympics. Heather Hintze will be one of about 1,200 plungers out there Saturday. Events kick off at Goose Lake at 10 – plungers and spectators alike are asked to park on the UAA campus and take a shuttle over. For more information, see the links page on ktva.com.

 

 

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