The lake temp came in at just under 56F but was an absolute joy to swim in. Although we didn’t have the warmer air temperatures as the prior week, we still had clear skies and a calm and clear lake. I went with my same setup as last week but will likely be ditching the rash guard going forward as the “sting factor” is no longer an issue when getting in the water.
Spring is one of the best times to get in the lake, so get your swims in now!
The rising lake temperatures stalled a bit this week and came in at 52.0F on Sunday morning. But we had a very balmy 65F air temp coupled with perfect swimming conditions that more than made up for it. I got in just under 1/2 mile in my jammers, cap, and thermo rash guard and was quite comfortable the entire time. Check out the great scenery to the east!
Another perfect morning!
The lake temp regressed slightly to 50.6F, but it was still quite comfortable to swim in. As with last week, I went with just my swim jammers, cap, and thermo rash guard and was plenty comfortable during the 1/4 mile swim.
However, just to mix things up a bit, I decided to jog down to the 1/4 mile turnaround and do a point-to-point swim back to L1 versus doing my usual out-and-back from L1. This turned out to be a good idea as the sustained wind from the south created a slight current that I was swimming with as I made my way north. The lake was a bit choppy, but very pleasant nonetheless.
Happy May and Happy Mothers’ Day!
A nice surprise out at L1 as we finally got out of the “frigid forties.” The lake came in at 51.0F lake. And even though we had some fleeting drizzle at 6:00am, the 65F was more than enough to make things quite comfortable in and out of the water.
Overall, I got in 1/4 mile with just my jammers, swim cap, and thermo rash guard. It felt good to finally ditch the neoprene as you really notice the difference in arm range of motion without it. Looking forward to these longer, warmer days!
Quick update as I’m already late on this! The lake temp continues to rise and was a balmy 42.2F at 6:15am. Like last week the air was a bit crisp at 37F air temp. But as you can see it was another amazing morning to be out at the lake!
We finally broke through the 40F floor with the lake temp just edging past this milestone at 40.6F. The air was a bit chiller at 36F air temp, but I got in 1/2 mile in perfect swimming conditions with yet another glorious sunrise! Keeping this short and letting the pics tell the story.
Daylight Savings Time gave us one less hour of sleep, but it also bumped up sunrise to 7:00am. So this means that our June swims won’t be starting at 4:30am!
While L1 still had some stray ice on it to remind us that it was still officially winter, the swim area itself was free and clear. Plus, you could tell that the lake is shedding off its winter layer as the water was significantly clearer. So we wasted little time and got in the 35.8F lake as soon as we could gear up.
While the water still hadn’t punched through the 40F ceiling, it sure felt a lot warmer than in prior weeks. Much of this was likely due to our acclimation to the cold over the past few months. But you could definitely tell that the hard edge of winter isn’t there anymore – even on a 32F morning.
Given the tranquil lake conditions, I did a just over 1/2 mile in a long lazy loop. Getting back into my civilian clothes was very easy, and I didn’t really have much of an afterdrop to contend with. So it looks like we can finally say goodbye to Old Man Winter – even if it is a bittersweet parting!
We had some very gusty winds from the west, so I was expecting the lakefront to be a mess. But the swim area was perfectly calm with no ice at 6:15am. So we geared up before Ma Nature changed her mind and got in the lake.
For this first time in a while, I was able to do an unencumbered 1/2 mile as there was no ice to bar my way, nor were there any waves or chops to thwart my progress. So I swam to the 1/4 mile point and back in one long loop without any break in my workout – just the way it’s supposed to be!
Post swim was quite tolerable in the 38F air, and I only had a very minor afterdrop. Even better, we got to welcome Jean as a new Lake/Ice Monster – hailing all the way from the Emerald Isle. Way to go Jean!
We lucked out this morning as the lake was perfectly calm and just right for a swim. The water temp came in at 33.4F – much balmier than the 28F air temp, and I got in close to 1/2 mile. Plus we had another fantastic sunrise! Keeping this brief as I’m playing catch up on these reports (!)
