Cold Day at the Penguin Plunge 2014

Yes, it was a COLD day!!  It was 5 degrees when the Penguin Plunge started in Whitefish, MT.  But there were a lot of plungers with big, warm hearts -- to be jumping into freezing water for the Special Olympics.  This is an annual event and this year it raised almost $31,000. 

This year's theme was "Viva Las Vegas" and there were a few "Elvis" costumes, and many plungers sporting "bling".  One group even did a high stepping dance before taking the plunge.  It is fun for all -- particularly the spectators. 

Oh yeah.....Elvis is in the house!!

While the plungers are the main focus of this event, it is part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival.  So we have "Royalty" plus the other characters that go along with the Plunge and the legend of the carnival (see the post from January 11, 2014).  The Royalty consists of King Ullr and his Queen of the Snows, The Duchess of Lark, and a Prince and Princess (and unfortunately for these two, they plunge every year).

The Whitefish Winter Carnival "Royalty"

And along with the legend, we have other characters -- a fierce band of snowmen called "Yeti's" who attempt to kidnap the Queen, and generally cause chaos and general harassment.

This fierce "Yeti" appears to have been collecting pins from the Olympics

"Just where is that Queen?  You head that way and I'll head this way....."

And while the Penguins are not a part of the Carnival legend, it is, after all, a PENGUIN Plunge.

HEY.....would you mind getting that horn out of my ear?

Of course, safety is of paramount importance.  And we want to make sure all the brave plungers make it out of the freezing water safely.  So there are divers and many brave rescue firefighters who stand in the water and help the people out. 

One of the two divers, with a rescue rope attached

There are awards given for the plunger with the most pledges, the team that raises the most money, the largest team (which always goes to the group that wears the strange masks -- and I have pictures), the best costume, etc. 

Through my pictures, I plan to give my own awards.......and the winner is......

THE BEST VEGAS DANCE AWARD

In keeping with the "Viva Las Vegas" theme, this team attempted to look like show girls.  My favorite part is the fishnet stockings the men are wearing (you might not be able to see those).  But they attempted a "high kick" dance before plunging into those icy waters. 

Attempting to look like a Vegas chorus line, we have feather boa's and fishnet stockings

Get those legs up there guys!!  I'll give it a 5.3 score. 

And regardless of how high you kick -- you must PLUNGE!!

THE BEST ATTEMPT TO RUN ACROSS THE WATER WITHOUT GETTING WET AWARD

There's always one in every crowd who wants to say they plunged -- without plunging!!  And she even wore her tutu.  Admirable try.

 

Run, run, run.....and maybe you won't get wet.....

NOT!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SMARTEST PLUNGE OF THE DAY AWARD

Why take a chance of going under that water and having to be saved?  Just jump right into the arms of the rescue person.  SMART!!  

 

She looked right at this rescue man and said "catch me"

Undoubtedly the "happiest" face of the day

THE SORRIEST LOSER OF THE DAY AWARD

A Denver Bronco's fan -- need I say more?

 

I guess after the poor showing by the Bronco's, this fan decided to punish himself by plunging

And how nice.....he brought a friend

Go Bronco's fan.....Go!!!

THE BEST "OMG,  I ACTUALLY PLUNGED" FACE AWARD

We have a tie.  There were some amazing faces coming out of the water.  Did you really not think it would be freezing?  These are adults, and they are responsible for their choices.  But I felt very sorry as parents actually let small children jump into that water.  Really.....what were they thinking?  

OMG!!  It really is cold. 

Yes.....this poor little girl is crying.  Thank goodness this brave rescue worker gets her out of the water quickly.

THE CUTEST COUPLE EVER AWARD

There were a lot of teams, but these guys really stood out -- at least the blond did.  Getting into the spirit, they had a cardboard, life-size Elvis poster with them (not shown).  Plunge baby, plunge!!

Not sure how this costume is "Vegas", but it should have STAYED in Vegas

Is that a cry of joy?  Or a cry of "OMG, it's freezing".

THE "TOO CHICKEN TO PLUNGE" AWARD

Actually, there is a "too chicken to plunge" category.  If you really don't want to jump into the water, you can still gather pledges to help the Special Olympics -- and you don't have to get wet!  I think this plunger was suppose to be a chicken, although it looks a lot like a bald eagle.  Oh well.....they showed up, and then walked off.  SMART CHICKEN!!

OMG!!  OMG!!  Fooled you....I'm NOT jumping.

The Eagle/Chicken took time to say "hi" to the kids standing in front of me.

So a good time was had by all.  COME TO MONTANA -- yes, this is how we spend our winters.  You've got to have some fun if you live in the snow. 

2014 Whitefish World Championship Skijoring

All right!!!!  The winter carnival has started in earnest with the running of the 2014 Whitefish World Championship Skijoring.  It was a bit of a foggy day with our usual "inversion" laying over a large part of the valley.  But that didn't dampen spirits for those in attendance.  They normally get about 3,000 people at the skijoring competition, and everyone gets into the fun.  Lots of food vendors, beer vendors, etc. 

The sporty combines a horse pulling a skier through slaloms and over jumps

Focused Cowgirl

SKIS AND HORSES -- people come from all over the country to combine the two. This was the 11th year of the competition, and it's open to both men and women equally -- from as far away as Vermont and Arizona. 

And there are novice to pro divisions -- even a division for mules.  So I'm posting some of my favorite photos from this year's competition.  Enjoy!  And next year come join us!!

One of the reasons I attend -- THE COWBOYS

There is the Winter Festival Royalty (King and Queen of the Winter Festival) -- of course I like the horses

And yes.....Spiderman DID land this jump

There is lots of focused concentration while on course.....

....and some funny faces as well

Just liked this picture.....

Whitefish Winter Carnival -- Great Times in the Flathead

Its that time of year again.  Great fun at the Whitefish Winter Carnival.  January 25-26 will be the Skiijoring, which is always a good time.  www.whitefishskijoring.com  Check out the web site, as they always have a fun video.

Rider on horseback pulls skier over jumps -- that's Skiijoring!!

 And then there is the Winter Carnival.  There is a "legend" that goes along with the winter carnival which drives all of the activities.  It goes:

Once upon a time, there lived a god named Ullr, who reigned over winter activities in the Nordic regions.  Aiding him were his Prime Minister and Queen, who were skilled in creating the beauties of winter.

King Ullr and his Queen

As time went by, however, his subjects become engrossed in exploring the world and its oceans, and they paid less homage to their god-king and the festivities of their winter season, so Ullr became a god all-but-forgotten, except in dim tradition.

After centuries of brooding and searching the world for a place to rest, Ullr and his two remaining subjects came to the Flathead Valley. So struck were they by its beauty that they decided to settle there and selected the Big Mountain as their adopted home.

Their rest was short-lived as they soon found their home was also the abode of a fierce band of snowmen called Yetis, who attempted to  kidnap their Queen. However, Ullr and his followers  being more agile and resourceful, prevailed and learned to live with only occasional skirmishes with the Yetis.

A "Yeti" - found all over Whitefish

 
Eventually, man invaded the valley with axes, guns and wagons. Ullr, his followers and the Yetis observed these men as they civilized the valley and were alarmed these men began to invade their homes.  Ullr found these men were not aware of his presence, and as he continued to observe these men, he found they not only enjoyed the sports of winter, but referred to Ullr himself as a patron saint of their small celebrations and revelries.

Seeing his chance after centuries of loneliness and self-banishment, Ullr assumed the garb of these men and went among them. The Yetis, however, would have nothing to do with these men  except for attempts to drive them away.  Ullr aided the men in subduing the harassment of the Yetis, became their true hero and Kind, and it was proclaimed that there would be an annual fete at which Ullr and his court would be given the full homage due them.

Now each year the in town of Whitefish, known as Holiday Village, the Yetis, bolder than ever, try to steal the Queen, harass the Prime Minister and interfere with the festivities to assert their right to Big Mountain.

One can see why the Yetis should be sent back to the mountains!!

Ullr and his growing band of followers subdue them and send them fleeing back to their haven in the high valleys beyond the Big Mountain, where they plan their next raid. Ullr again reigns as master of winter sports and frolics along with his Queen and Prime Minister, beloved in the hearts of his loyal subjects.

There are other fun characters that show up at the Winter Carnival.  They include the Viking Divas

Viking Divas at the Penguin Plunge

 and of course, the Penguins

Penguins

And that's the "madness" that sets in during the Winter in Northwest Montana!!!  That and we drink a lot of beer. 

GLACIER PARK -- PHOTO TRIBUTE FOR 2013

This is the last weekend that the Going-to-the-Sun road will be open (at least to the Big Bend).  And a big "thank you" (NOT) to everyone in Congress who decided to shut down the government.  It cut short what is always a beautiful time of year in Glacier -- FALL!!  The weather has been beautiful with sunny days, cool temperatures, and the green of summer turning to the yellow of fall.

So I offer another alternative, which is a wonderful web site that is written by my friend Jessie Krakosky.  We worked together as volunteers in the Apgar Visitor Center on Sunday, along with friend Ranger Sarah Dix.  Jessie spends the week working at the Lake McDonald Lodge, and her free time hiking with her boyfriend Drew, Sarah, and other friends.  She is an avid hiker, and each Sunday I would ask where they had hiked and got information on great spots in Glacier that I could share with visitors.  Due to my arthritic ankle and healing knee, I just cannot hike as far or as high as they can go.  So I live vicariously through them.

The web site is http://livetheadventures.weebly.com.  Jessie documents all her hikes in Glacier, and she is a wonderful photographer -- beautiful pictures.  Please visit the site -- you'll feel like you have been on some of the highest peaks in Glacier.  

So a little parting tribute to some of the sights I enjoyed this year.  First....some of the "other" animals/birds that you can see in the park. 

Chipmunk paying on scree in Logan Pass

Common Loon (Kintla Lake)

 

 

 

Bald Eagle (Big Prairie)

Columbian Ground Squirrel ( Logan Pass - they are everywhere at Logan)

Hoary Marmot (Trail to Hidden Lake Overlook)

Hoary Marmot (Siyeh Bend)

Glacier is a national park because of the indescrible beauty that is found in the mountains.  These are just a few of the pictures I took during 2013, and I share them with you.

Avalanche Creek washing down from the mountains (the argillite or mudstone has been made smooth by the continuous rushing water)

Kintla Lake (4th largest lake in Glacier)

Hidden Lake Overlook (Bearhat Mt. is the dominant mountant at 8674 ft with Gunsight Mt. to the left at 9258 ft.)

Logan Pass Meadows

Many Glacier (most beautiful spot in the park)

Pompelly Peak in Two Medicine

Heavy Runner Mountain (8016 ft) was named for a Blackfeet Indian chief, who was killed in 1870.
Heavy Runner was killed as he left his lodge with his gift of an American flag given to him as a promise for his camp's safety.

The start of the Highline Trail, one of my favorite hikes in Glacier.  It's at the highest point of the road (approx. 6600 ft.) and is carved along the Garden Wall.  Fabulous views.

East Glacier

Wild Goose Island

Rainbow Island in St. Mary's Lake

While Glacier is known for mountains and glaciers, it has some beautiful waterfalls.  Here are some of my favorites (and of course, these are the waterfalls I can hike to -- many more beautiful falls than what I have here).

 Running Eagle Falls (also known as Trick Falls) in Two Medicine

Bridge at the bottom of St. Mary's Falls (sometimes helps to have a human in photo to give perspective)

St. Mary's Falls

Virginia Falls

Twin Falls (Two Medicine) must be seen in the spring to have the water at the highest level