Birch Bay Does New Year's Well

The Ring of Fire and Hope in the early New Year’s Eve and the Polar Bear Plunge New Year’s Day make Birch Bay a genuine destination for the holiday.

The Ring, started by Mike Kent several years ago, is becoming an unique tradition with road flares encircling the bay. Each year there are more. One day – yes, we can hope – the rim of fire will be complete. This photo shows the action at Alderson Beach. What we like most is the conviviality of strangers in the dark lighting the flares and enjoying the spectacle.

This was the 26th Plunge – actually there have been 27, the counters lost track or the first one didn’t qualify – sponsored by the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce. Overnight snow didn’t deter participants. A small group of eager plungers waited at the door of the Visitors’ Information Center for registration to begin at 9:30.

Registration was free this year and commemorative T-shirts sold for $15. The reason for registration was to get a count, provide certificates of participation and offer coupon books of merchant specials. Over 220 signed up for the plunge, a few more than last year, and some uncounted number opt out of registering.

One of the happiest plungers was Dr. Bruce Pederson of the Birch Bay Family Medicine Clinic. In the water for the 12th year, he did more than the required “up to your shoulders” – he swam out a ways and floated on his back before strolling back to shore.

First time plunger, Lisa Guthrie, the Chamber’s new president, said she “couldn’t feel a thing, it was so cold.” She and Kelvin Barton were still smiling after their dip.

Judging for the best individual “costume” was easy. This "doll" gained everyone’s attention well before the judging began.

A new category, farthest distance traveled to the event, was more difficult. Early in the morning a fellow from Tokyo was the favorite. Then a young woman from Germany said, “Look it up.” Sure enough, she was ahead by 300 miles. Then, just before the prizes were awarded, a man showed up from Hong Kong.

Those folks, the one or two thousand onlookers, the Ring of Fire and Hope lighters, and the merchants offering specials are all examples of what makes Birch Bay a place to celebrate every day of the year, but particularly on New Year's