More than 100 plunge into chilly Lake Washington in Kirkland to ring in the New Year | Photos
By CARRIE RODRIGUEZ
Kirkland Reporter Editor
January 1, 2012 · 3:37 PM
The King may have been the only one who did not get his hair wet on Sunday afternoon.
Dressed as Elvis Presley with a pair of swim trunks over his white costume, Kirkland resident Gordan Buck plunged into the 45-degree water of Lake Washington at Marina Park on Sunday.
"Notice I didn't get my hair wet," said Buck after he re-emerged dripping from the water, smoothing his hand over his dry black hairdo.
More than 100 swimmers took the daring plunge into the chilly lake on Sunday afternoon to ring in the New Year as part of Kirkland's 10th annual unofficial 2012 Polar Bear Plunge at Marina Park.
Many wore silly hats and costumes, including Kirkland resident Lisa Hilderbrand who said the water was actually pretty warm, given her long-sleeved pirate garb.
The City of Kirkland sponsored the annual event for several years until budget cutbacks in 2009.
However, many in Kirkland still flock to the Lake Washington shores every year to unofficially carry out the tradition.
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