Saturday Group Swim at Furry Creek (2022-03-12)

Time and Place

This swim takes place at Furry Creek Beach. 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 beach 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! If you do choose to get in some distance, we recommend swimming parallel to the shore and getting long before you get cold! You may swim as long as you like, but everyone must sign out by 11:15am.

Safety

There are no lifeguards at this beach. There could be motorized boat traffic, but they tend not to get too close to shore. 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 we swim 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. 

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, use the right turning lane (signs for Furry Creek) to exit. Park on Beach Drive here. From this parking lot, walk further (north) along Beach Drive towards the cul-de-sac. The left sidewalk veers towards the beach, through some blue gates, then towards the nearest beach. We will meet here on the rocky beach.

About the Location

This beautiful beach is rocky and barnacled, so water shoes or flip flops are highly recommended. There is a bit of a scramble sometimes to get onto the beach from the walkway, so pack appropriately to leave your hands free for balance. The beach entry is gradual, and you can stay within waist-deep water easily if you wish. The water is somewhat clear, meaning you can typically see the bottom in daylight.

Washrooms

There are no washrooms at this location.