The noon air was warm enough that the Polar Plunge felt more like a spring swim, and Charles Harakal was dressed for summer.
“A day at the beach,” the Hawaiian-shirt-clad Freedom High School teacher said as he waited his turn in Easton’s Scott Park to take a dip in the Delaware River.
But behind the confidence was the knowledge that it’s still February. No matter how warm it was Saturday, the Bethlehem resident knew the water would be a different story: “I think it’s going to take your breath away.”
More than 450 people signed up for the 2017 Lehigh Valley Polar Plunge, the fifth year for the benefit organized by Law Enforcement for Special Olympics PA.
The festive occasion saw inspired costumes from bikinis to bathrobes, superhero capes to tutus. Sherri McIntyre, along with her family and friends, wrapped themselves in bubble wrap to resemble bags of ice — they called their team “Ice, Ice, Babies.”
How long will the warm weather last?
McIntyre, of Easton, was thankful it didn’t feel like a winter day.
“It’s going to feel like one in there, though,” the Stroudsburg special education teacher said, indicating the river.
The air temperature at noon in Easton was between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AccuWeather. The Delaware River, however, was between 37 and 38 degrees, according to the U.S. Geologic Survey.
MORE PHOTOS: The 2016 Polar Plunge
Sean Chisholm, of Frederick, Md., and his friends were ready for it. They were part of the Super Plunge, where participants take a plunge every hour for 24 hours and raise $2,000 either individually or part of a team.
“It was great,” Chisholm said after taking one of the first swims in the river. “It was good. Refreshing. Good cause.”
As of 1:30 p.m., the event had raised just over $89,000 for the Special Olympics.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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