It was a bracing start to 2025 for a score of hardy souls braving the chilly waters of the Lithia Park swim reservoir
By Bob and Tracy Palermini
People ring in the new year in myriad ways. Some watch the ball drop in Times Square, some watch the Rose Parade. Many make resolutions. And some plunge themselves into cold water.
Despite rain and freezing temperatures, a group of 20 hardy souls chose the latter and took a plunge into the frigid waters of the Ashland swim reservoir in Lithia Park early Wednesday morning, New Year’s Day.
Calvin Livingston, who has been practicing and teaching cold exposure for several years, used social media to advertise the plunge, where he hoped to “create a space for connection, growth, and transformation, while introducing more people to the benefits of cold exposure in a supportive, communal setting.”
The group were greeted at the reservoir by Dave Brennan and three of his friends who have been taking a New Year’s Day plunge there for about eight years. Brennan called his group the “OG’s” — the originals.
Once the “OG’s” braved the frigid waters, the others gathered followed them into the water. Plungers reported that the water was a bit shocking at first, but they quickly acclimated to the temperature, at least for a brief period of time. Coming out of the water, most quickly donned warmer clothes, but one participant took time for silent mediation.
Sara Dinara, recently relocated to Ashland from Los Angeles, was motivated to take her first polar plunge because she wanted to “do things that scare me in 2025.” Jason Coffield, visiting from Oceanside, California, was at the reservoir to take his 367th consecutive daily plunge.
Bob & Tracy Palermini are residents of Ashland, where he is staff photographer for Ashland.news. Email Bob at [email protected].
