As the countdown to noon on New Year's Day began, hundreds of people on Sanders Beach began to strip off their clothes and cheer. Like bubbles on the brink of boiling, the energy gradually began rising until the pivotal moment, at the count of one, when the hordes of Polar Bear Plungers danced and charged down the snowy beach and submerged themselves into the icy waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene, thus beginning their journeys into 2016. "It’s a fresh start for the new year," said Kevin Serr of Coeur d'Alene, wearing a snuggly Santa Claus suit. "And it’s fun," said his wife, Marnie, also clad in a Santa suit. "It’s like you can say, 'I did it!'"/Devin Heilman, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: How did you start the New Year?