Who’ll Take The Plunge? Sandpoint’s Winter Carnival May Lose One Of Its Top Attractions

The annual polar bear plunge, an icy dip into Lake Pend Oreille, appears to be sunk.

The Chamber of Commerce has scrapped the seven-year tradition - one of the most popular events of January’s Winter Carnival. Organizers said the frigid swim is too dangerous and no one will provide liability insurance for it.

“It’s a big disappointment, but we aren’t going to be able to do it this year,” said Janet Clegg, a Chamber of Commerce assistant and event organizer. “The liability of the event is very high and we haven’t been able to find a sponsor.”

On Lake Pend Oreille, it’s sometimes necessary to use a chainsaw to cut through ice and reach water. The hole is big enough to allow participants to jump in one at a time and climb back out on a ladder.

Some residents say the demise of the polar bear plunge is just another bummer for Sandpoint’s Winter Carnival.

The city always kicked off the two-week carnival by burning a huge pile of Christmas trees at City Beach.

State officials put the kibosh on the bonfire this month because of concerns about air quality. And unless the weather gods cooperate and dump more snow on Sandpoint, the annual snow sculpture contest could also be a bust.

“We are doing snow dances,” Clegg said. “We may have to truck snow down from Schweitzer (Mountain Resort) or hold a one-day event on the mountain.”

Chuck Smith, a Sandpoint businessman, says he may have no control over the snow or bonfire, but he’s not giving up.

“I was kind of stunned when I didn’t see it on the calendar of events,” he said. “It disturbed me. When you start doing away with the tree burning and the plunge, then all of a sudden Winter Carnival becomes nothing exciting.”

Smith owns a filming business and has videotaped the plunge every year. He has never jumped in himself. Just in case he changes his mind, he’s trying to rally businesses to sponsor the event, which draws several hundred spectators.

“It’s partly because I don’t want to see tradition broken,” he said. “I also think we need more of these adventures … That’s what Winter Carnival is all about.”

Smith wants to get enough money donated to buy liability insurance and provide a safe atmosphere for the plungers. If that fails, he expects many of the hardcore dippers to show up and leap in the lake anyway.

That’s the way the polar bear plunge works in Coeur d’Alene. The event there is not official, not advertised and not sponsored by anyone. So insurance isn’t necessary.

“In Coeur d’Alene, people just show up and it’s done,” Smith said. “I think the way we do it is a lot safer. I certainly hope we can carry on the tradition for at least another year.”

Winter Carnival begins Jan. 13. The plunge is typically scheduled for Jan. 21.