Forks continues cool tradition

FORKS – Now it’s a tradition.

The first cold plunge into Lake Pleasant last New Year’s Day didn’t dissuade organizers from putting the word out again this year, so some 15 people are ready to jump into the lake at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The group will meet at the Lake Pleasant Boat Launch, and all are welcome, said Sonja Hirsch on Sunday.

“This year’s going to be way colder,” than last year, she added.

“It’s been hailing out here. It’s supposed to be 33 degrees on Tuesday.

“Last year, it was just raining. It wasn’t too bad.”

Hirsch – who works for the state Criminal Justice Training Commission and is visiting her family from Tacoma – and Monica Henry – who recently finished master’s degree work in Costa Rica and who works for the Quileute tribe in the Forks area – are organizing the Polar Bear dip as they did last year.

The first year of the plunge, nine people – including Hirsch’s mother Carin and uncle Kevin Hinchen – took the leap.

“We’ve been spreading it around by word of mouth,” Hirsch said.

Carin Hirsch plans to jump in again as does Hinchen, but Hirsch’s father George and her grandparents plan to be spectators, she said.

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