Reading some of the stories from Jack London and listening to the knowledge of the people of the north, getting wet is to be avoided at all costs so the concept of making a swim however short in the waters of the Norton sound at Nome is a somewhat strange proposition and a complete paradox for the local people.
(Please note, the youtube video is a Nomenugget production independent from the expedition and apologies for the lack of photos, technical probs still prevailing.)
The town of Nome has seen all kinds of characters arrive with all kinds of ideas about crossing the Bering Strait and with even wilder vehicles that are supposedly up to the task. This probably gets quite boring but have they ever had winter swimmers arrive in their town? The answer is probably not. Open water swimming in this part of the world is usually associated with Sir Ranulph Fiennes type adventurers clad in survivals suits hopping from one iceburg to the next. The idea of a bona fide swim is an alien concept and rightly so as this is a hrash and unforgiving environment. No matter how hardened the cold water swimmer, a lack of respect for nature in this part of the world will surely result in death.
Nevertheless, 3 experienced winter swimmers from the UK (Jack Bright), Russia (Alexander Brylin) and China (Zhiang Liang Zhe) lined up on the frozen beach at Nome with the air temperature hovering around negative 18. They were joined by Loren Prosser of Nome who had decided he must take at least a symbolic dip to prove the toughness of the local populous. All credit to Prosser, he fulfilled his promise. The other 3 then got on with the job which involved 100m swimming with flags before another 100m swim without. Total time in the water was just over 5 minutes. Actually ‘water’ is maybe noty the right word – it was more like icy slush or flowing ice cream. The highly saline water was around -2c although the mercury themometer was constantly reading negative 7! On ething was certain – it was freezing cold and limbs were completetly numb (although still functioning) within 10 seconds of entering the water. Coming from a reasonably mild European autumn this was a big drop in temperature and it took a few minutes for the blood to start circulating afterwards. Needless to say, a few cups of tea later all was well and the journey continued by bush plane to the native village of Wales, the furthest western point of the United States…
More coming soon
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