Saturday Adventure Swim from Porteau Cove to Furry Creek (2022-09-10)
Swim Wild Squamish is doing an adventure swim! Join us for a swim from Porteau Cove to Furry Creek. Read below for details about parking, carpooling and swim distance. Hope to see you there!
The Gran Fondo Whistler is taking place in the morning so we will meet in the afternoon at 2:30pm.
Time and Place
For this swim we will meet at the Furry Creek parking lot at 2:30pm. Park on Beach Drive here.
We will then leave half the cars there, and jump into each others vehicles and carpool to Porteau Cove. We will re-group, discuss the swim and have a safety briefing together at Porteau Cove before jumping in the water.
Swim Format
From Porteau Cove, we’ll swim towards Furry Creek. Depending on where you get out at Furry Creek, the swim is between 2km and 3km. You should be comfortable in the water for 1-2 hours (and perhaps consider wearing a wetsuit). We strongly suggest that you have a swim buoy to put your flip flops and car keys (if you’re driving) in.
Safety is our top priority. Especially since this is quite different from our usual swims. Please note that there are very few places to get out between Porteau Cove and the first beach at Furry Creek. If currents or conditions aren’t favourable, we’ll turn around and swim back to Porteau.
Safety
There are no lifeguards on this swim. 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 (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
We will start and end at Furry Creek Beach. 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.
