Iron Swim 2021

Swim the Ironman distance of 3.86km, or half Ironman distance of 1.9km!

Time and Place

This swim takes place at 7:00am sharp at Brohm Lake. We will meet on the rock closest to the parking lot at around 6:45am and plan to be in the water right for 7:00am. Please allow yourself a few minutes to park, get ready, and sign in before the mandatory safety briefing at 6:55am. If you miss the safety briefing at 6:55am, you will not be allowed to swim with us. See below for additional location and parking info.

Swim Format

There will be two swim options:

– Option 1 (half iron): one lap of Brohm Lake from the starting rock to the north end of the lake and back. Approximately 1.9km
– Option 2 (full iron): two laps of the half iron course, approximately 3.8-3.9km.

There will be a 3-hour cutoff for the full iron distance. If you have not completed one lap (half iron) by 1.5 hours, you will be advised to finish your swim there or only complete a partial second lap to be respectful of the volunteers and swim leads. 

You may also sign up to be a volunteer or paddle supporter! Please indicate your preference when you sign up.

Safety

There are no lifeguards at this lake. There is no motorized boat traffic allows, but paddlers and floaty toys are common. 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 (mandatory; 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 (especially for the half-way point for the full iron distance)

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 north on the Sea to Sky Highway from Squamish, use the left turning lane (signs for Brohm Lake) to turn directly into the parking lot. Parking is free but extremely limited, so please carpool or have someone drop you off. If the parking lot is full, there is a second parking lot on the south end of Brohm Lake, but it is a 20 minute+ walk to the meeting point from there.

About the Location

This is a deep, clear lake with gorgeous scenery. At this time of summer, the water temperature tends to hover between 17-20 degrees though may be variable depending on the weather. The entry is rocky and steep and gets deep quickly. Water conditions tend to be very clear, so expect to see swimmers around you, the occasional lake weed (far enough down that they won’t touch you), the occasional fish, and otherwise black nothing-ness. There is a trail that goes all the way around the lake, but it’s only possible/practical to exit the lake at a few points along its length so you must be prepared to swim or float the full distance back.

The main “rock” that we meet at is at the end of the short trail down (west) from the parking lot. Here is the location.

Washrooms

There is a single outhouse 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.