Saturday Group Dip – LOCATION CHANGED TO ALICE LAKE (2021-11-13)
UPDATE: Due to high river levels, this swim will be relocated to Alice Lake. We will meet at the swimmer’s beach where we met in the summer. Park at the main parking lot and go left of the outhouse/main washroom building where there are three smaller beaches. This is where the paddle rental hut is in the summer.
Meeting time is still 9:45am, safety briefing 9:55am, and in the water for 10am.
Time and Place
This swim/dip takes place at the Mamquam River off Mamquam Road. 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
This river dipping spot is a short walk from the car, and with the cool temperatures at this time of year it’s likely that most of us will dip rather than swim! You may swim as long as you like, but everyone must sign out by 11:00am.
Safety
There are no lifeguards at this beach. The river is home to some fast-moving water, but we will stay in an eddy area where currents are reasonable. 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 (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 can be accessed by car, bike, or on foot. Here is the parking area. The gravel parking lot is just past the golf course on Mamquam Road. If you drive your car, park in the gravel parking lot and then walk towards the trail near the outhouse and yellow gate. Turn left down the small trail just in front of the outhouse. Follow the short trail down to the river. The trail is quite short so if you ride your bike please feel free to bring it down to the beach if you’d like.
About the Location
This river beach has a nice big sandy area where you can set up your towel, extra clothes, etc. for when you get out of the water. It is a gradual beach entry into the water however it is rocky as you get closer to the water. The water can be moving quite quickly but we will stick close to shore in an eddy area where currents are reasonable. We will meet on the sandy beach at the end of the trail from the parking lot. You can find us here.
Washrooms
There is an outhouse in 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.
