Marathoner Tries Pend Oreille Swim

While the rest of us sit inside at our air-conditioned desks or do whatever else we can to stay cool today, it’s fair to say Elaine K. Howley has the most strenuous plan to beat the heat. The 45-year-old open-water swimmer is attempting a solo, non-stop swim of the length of Idaho’s largest lake, Lake Pend Oreille — a total of 34 miles from the southern tip at Buttonhook Bay up to Sandpoint’s City Beach in the northwest. If Howley is successful, she’ll be the first person to do so. It’s expected to take the Boston-based ultra-marathon swimmer between 17 and 20 hours to complete her journey if conditions are fair, but could take as many as 24 hours if the water is choppy. Follow Howley’s progress throughout the day via the Sandpoint Online Facebook page /Bloglander, Inlander. More here.

Question: Is there any water in the region colder to swim in than Lake Pend Oreille?