Saturday Group Swim at Porteau Cove (2024-05-18)

Time and Place

This Spring dip takes place at Porteau Cove Provincial Park. We will meet at 9:45am and plan to be in the water by 10:00am. Please allow yourself a few minutes to park, get ready, and sign in before the mandatory safety briefing at 9:55am sharp. If you miss the safety briefing at 9:55am you will not be allowed to swim with us. See below for additional location and parking info.

Swim Format

There will be a couple of different swim options. With the water pretty cold, people will stick to a dip:

– Option 1 (dip): the water gets gradually deeper close to shore, which makes for a nice place to dip! Stay in as long as you like.

– Option 2 (swim out towards the dive buoys): swim from the beach out toward the dive buoys. If you choose this option we highly recommend a wetsuit and experience swimming in cold temperature.

Safety

There are no lifeguards at this beach. There is the possibility for motorized boat traffic, but it is unlikely to come too close to our swimming area. Paddlers and divers are also common at this location. Swimming wild is an amazing experience, but it’s not without risk. This is how we manage it:

– We swim within our own abilities, and need to be honest with ourselves about our abilities if we decide to venture out of our depth. We want to be out of the water long before we get too cold or exhausted
– We swim with a buddy, and check in regularly to see how each other is doing
– We each carry a whistle. If anything happens, you can signal for help
– We each wear a brightly-coloured swim cap (such as your SWS member cap!). This makes us easy to spot. A brightly-coloured tow float is also highly recommended, and can be great to hold on to when having a break out in the deep water
– We will sign in before the safety briefing and sign out before we leave. If we don’t sign out, the volunteers will call us, then our emergency contact, then the first responders. This is incredibly important to make sure we can account for everyone
– We will have a first aid kit and at least one person trained in first aid present at every swim. However, this first aid person may be in the water and will not necessarily be able to respond promptly. We may also be far away from the kit as you venture out on your swim.

Gear

Each swimmer is responsible for their own choice of gear, but here are some suggestions:

– A swimsuit or swim apparel of choice (no judgement)
– A wetsuit (optional)
– A brightly-coloured swim cap or hat/toque (cap included with your membership)
– A loud whistle (mandatory; available for $5 at our swims)
– Goggles and ear plugs (optional)
– A brightly-coloured tow-float (recommended)
– Snacks and water

Once you get out of the water, you might want:

– A large towel or two
– A mat or extra towel for standing on while getting changed
– A dry-robe, towel robe, or just a big towel for getting changed under
– Loose clothing that’s easy to pull on when you’re slightly damp. Buttons, zippers, or other fussy things that are difficult to use with numb fingers are not recommended
– Water shoes, crocs, or flip flops
– A warm drink
– A snack

Getting Here and Parking

This location is best accessed by car. Heading south on the Sea to Sky Highway from Squamish, look for a short right turning lake (signs for Porteau Cove) to turn into the park. Keep right at every available opportunity and park in the main parking lot (not the camping area). Parking is free.

About the Location

This beach is mostly rocky with a gradual beach entry at low tide, or a stairs entry at high tide. The water tends to be fairly clear, expect the usual sea life. We will meet at the north beach on your right as you drive in. Here is the location.

Washrooms

There are public flush toilets at the parking lot. Consider bringing your own toilet kit with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. You may also want to arrive dressed and ready to swim.