Wildwood Park at Lake Thurmond hosted a polar plunge on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 8 as the wind chill temperature hovered in the 20s. More than a dozen people participated in the new year’s tradition, including organizer Jayson Stonehocker.
Polar plunges are often done as charity events, but Stonehocker and his wife Jacquelyn organize the Columbia County even as a means of building friendships.
With the wind chill in the 20s, seven people braved the ice cold water at Lake Thurmond to participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Staff photo by Mike AdamsPolar plunge participate Curt Strickland swims back to shore after jumping in the ice cold water at Lake Thurmond to participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Staff photo by Mike Adams.A participant makes her way back to shore after taking a dip in the ice cold water at Lake Thurmond to participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Staff photo by Mike AdamsJayson Stonehocker, left, and his son Jonathan enjoyed the cold water so much they decided to jump back in for a second time at Lake Thurmond at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Staff photo by Mike AdamsPolar Plunge organizer Jayson Stonehocker is all smiles as he swims back to shore after jumping in the ice cold water at Lake Thurmond to participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan.8, 2022. Staff photo by Mike AdamsOrganizer Jayson Stonehocker poses with participates at Lake Thurmond to participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. He has been hosting the event for several years and hopes it will grow. Staff photo by Mike Adams.Jayson Stonehocker, center, and participates try to get warm by the fire after taking a dip in at Lake Thurmond to participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Staff photo by Mike AdamsParticipants exit the cold water at Lake Thurmond as they participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Staff photo by Mike AdamsParticipants enter the ice cold water at Lake Thurmond to participate in the polar plunge at Wildwood Park in Appling on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022
That beats all!