Eye on MI | Braving the plunge | Mercer Island Reporter

Eye on MI | Braving the plunge

Published 4:29 pm Monday, January 4, 2016

Islander Lena Harder does her best to endure the 45-degree water during the 48th annual Polar Bear Plunge Friday

Though not all entered the water, roughly 40 people turned out for the 48th annual Polar Bear Plunge on Friday, Jan. 1 at Clarke Beach.

By noon, the air temperature was 38 degrees, while the water temperature was estimated to be 45 degrees.

Organizer Nile Clarke began the tradition in 1968, when he was a teacher at North Mercer Junior High.