On any given day during the summer, people by the dozen can be spotted jumping into the refreshing water of Bellingham Bay. Granted, the average temperature in Bellingham during the summer hovers at around 71 degrees, making a jump into the bay not unusual.
On a freezing January afternoon, a group of people walked down the snow-covered walkway at Taylor Dock. Many wore boots, heavy coats, gloves and knitted hats to stay warm from the frigid air blowing in.
After arriving to the end of the dock, their winter-inspired outfits became swimsuits and bare feet on the fresh snow that had fallen just hours before.
Within seconds, the whole group threw themselves over the railing as they plunged deep into the 46-degree water.
No one lost a bet or got last place in a fantasy football league to result in this test of courage. Instead, this was all a planned event that happens almost daily for the Western Washington University Cold Plunge Club.
Caleb Barville, who serves as one of the club’s leaders, says that he has experienced many health benefits from doing these plunges on a regular basis. “The biggest reason for me doing it is the mental health benefits I get from it,” said Barville, who attends almost every cold plunge planned by the club. “I have noticed I just feel a lot better throughout the day when I’m doing cold plunges on a regular basis.”
Founded in 2023, the club’s mission is to help the community explore the benefits of cold-water exposure in their daily life.
“You feel very alive when you hit the water,” said Jaden Miller, a founding member of the club. “It’s like a dopamine rush that goes crazy.”
At every cold plunge they advertise, the club intentionally has at least one certified lifeguard there to join in on the plunge. If someone needs assistance after jumping into the water, one of the club leaders is certified to help out accordingly.
Right before the group of cold plungers jumped into the water, Caleb Barville quickly said, “It’s always a good time, even when it’s not!”
For more information about the Western Washington University Cold Plunge Club, visit their Instagram HERE.
