Janice Gaines-Ehlen has been doing this polar plunge for years. Initially with just a handful of friends over a dozen years ago, and now with HUNDREDS of “friends”. What started out as a neighborhood thing for these Neah-Kah-Nie Beach locals, has now grown into a tradition for hundreds and is known up and down the coast as the place to be on January 1st. The day dawned bright and sunny a balmy 45 degree temperature (the water temperature was around 50 degrees.) The fire was stoked and the run down to the water began – it’s all over in about five minutes and they run back to the fire, towels and warmth.
Thanks so much to John Garcia for the amazing drone footage and to Mike Durkin who shared his photos with the Pioneer.
