Why People Are Taking the Plunge into Cold Water

As the weather turns cold in the north, some people are choosing to swim in icy rivers. Eliza Dunn,a student at Dartmouth College,joined a cold-water dipping group called the Brave Souls last winter in the Connecticut River.

(SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, “BRAVE SOULS”)

ELIZA DUNN: I’m at a boat launch just off Route 5 in Norwich, Vermont. It’s late February, and it’s bitterly cold.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Woo.

DUNN: With three other women, I’m getting ready to swim.

ALLIE EVANS: I came dressed in a wearable blanket, sweatpants, wool socks, and tennis shoes, with my bathing suit underneath.

DUNN: This is Allie Evans, a member of the Brave Souls.The other women are also wearing lots of layers. But when it’s time to swim,they all change into bathing suits. Soon, they’re wading into the river, pushing away floating ice.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Shouting) Woo. Woo.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Laughter) OK.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Don’t fall! It’s unachievable.

DUNN: The timer starts – three minutes. When I heard about the Brave Souls, I knew I had to try it.

AMY GREEN: On really cold days, we’ve had to break through the ice to get into the water.We just crushed right through it (laughter).

DUNN: This is Amy Green. She organizes the Brave Souls, even though she recently moved to Norwich from northern Vermont. She quickly got her new friend Kendra involved, too.

KENDRA LITT