New Year’s Day Polar Plunge a tradition for out-of-towners

All of the 250-some people who climbed out of Evergreen Lake on Monday afternoon had the same expression on their faces — that of unbelievable, mind-numbing cold.

“Never again,” one woman said between the teeth chattering, as a loved one threw a towel over her.

But that won’t be the case for Denver’s Sawyer family, who has done the annual Evergreen Lake Plunge every year since it started in 2008, and in Boulder before that. While dad John Sawyer attributed his family’s annual participation to his and his wife Cindy’s parental leadership, their four children said it was more peer pressure and loose genes.

“We do it every year up here because Drive Smart is a good cause to support,” John said, “... and because we’re crazy.”

“It helps change your mindset,” Jake said. “It’s very cleansing. It’s like an annual baptism.”

John and Cindy added that the event as a whole is enjoyable because the location is scenic, and the Evergreen Fire/Rescue personnel who help with the plunge make it fun and safe.

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By Corinne Westeman
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 4:50 pm