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Pictured are, from left, Jan Sartorelli, Lori Kaye and Monajean Rose. Submitted photo
Pictured are, from left, Jan Sartorelli, Lori Kaye and Monajean Rose. Submitted photo
By Vicki Browne
Iron County Lakes & Streams Partnership
IRON RIVER — During the first week of October the three Erickson sisters jumped into the chilling lakes of Iron River.
Mona Jean Rose, the eldest, dashed from the sauna into Shag Lake near Gwinn several times. Lori Kaye took two swims in Alpena — the first in Grand Lake and the second in Lake Huron, (she said the water temperature was 57ºF and the waves were rolling). Jan Sartorelli, the youngest, also swam twice –in Chicaugon Lake and then in Sunset Lake.
The sisters were inspired by the Sept. 20 article in the Iron County Reporter about cold-water swimming. The girls’ mother, Carol Erickson, gets an annual subscription for each girl.
“We’re all kind of crazy,” said Kaye. “The article inspired me.”
When Kaye posted her cold-water swim on social media, her sisters could not resist the challenge.
“We’re a competitive, fun-loving family,” said Sartorelli. “We challenge each other.”
Rose was at home near Marquette, getting over a bout of Covid. She decided that a cold swim would help with her achy muscles and boredom.
“I was sick of my four walls,” said Rose. “Athletes take ice baths for sore muscles, so a swim might do the trick.”
All three sisters raved about how exhilarating it was.
“I loved it,” said Rose. “There were two women on a dock wearing down coats and I was swimming.”
“It was a sunny day and the water was invigorating,” Sartorelli said. “The cold water was a shock, but when I got out I wasn’t cold at all.”
“I was laughing so hard,” said Kaye. “Twenty minutes swimming in Lake Huron gave me such a high.”
Swimming wasn’t a one-and-done for any of the sisters. Sartorelli, who was visiting, swam two days in a row and said she will probably swim again when back in town. Kaye swam three days in a row and plans to continue as long as the air temperature is good and it’s not raining. Rose plans to continue getting into the water and swimming as long as possible.
“I think the only thing stopping Mom from jumping in is the fact that she’s 92,” said Sartorelli.
In 2006 Kate Rew founded the Outdoor Swimming Society, whose original mission was simply “to give permission to swim wild.”
In the OSS Temperature Guide, Rew describes swimming in various temperature ranges.
• 63º-68ºF is summer swimming:“fresh on entry, but comfortable.”
• 54º-61ºF is fresh: without a wetsuit the water is doable for the brave.
• 43º-52ºF is freezing: not quite as painful or breathtaking as baltic swims.
• 32º-43ºF is baltic: the water has bite, skin smarts and burns.
“That said, the joy of swimming without a wetsuit at [the baltic] end of the temperature spectrum is the cold water high: the pure exhilaration and rush of endorphins that you get from getting in,” wrote Rew. “Winter swimmers frequently become addicted to it, and it is sufficiently powerful that a one-two minute swim can leave you feeling good all day.”
The OSS Temperature Guide also contains cautions about cold water shock, swim failure, afterdrop and hypothermia. Cold water shock refers to dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Swim failure happens as blood rushes to vital organs in the core and blood flow to arms and legs is reduced, potentially impacting a person’s ability to swim. Afterdrop means a swimmer will feel coldest about 10 minutes after exiting the water. Hypothermia is a drastic drop in core body temperature.
Acclimatization (starting a swim regimen when the water is warmer and continuing as the water cools), swimming close to shore, putting on warm clothes after a swim and always having a person watching from the shore are strategies essential for safe cold-water swims.
“I swam long enough and got out when my arms started to feel heavy,” Rose said.
Although their brother would rather play golf, these sisters find joy, exhilaration and health in cold-water swimming.