[IronJack]

I had a boss who used to sail up around the Apostles during the summer. He said that every year someone unfamiliar with the lake would anchor out in the deeps and jump in for a quick swim ... then just as quicly jump right back out!

He said it also wasn’t unusual for them to suffer heart attacks from the shock and drown. Said he watched it happen once and even aided in the search for the body.

The Big Lake doesn’t forgive.

Close to shore, the water can be tolerable. We’ve taken the kids swimming at Sandy Point. But they don’t go out very far and they don’t stay in long.

[libstripper]

In 1975 or 1976 I hiked the length of Isle Royale. I stank, itched horribly, and was filthy by the end and desperately needed a bath. To do so, I found a small, shallow bay that looked like it might not be too cold. Using a tee shirt as a wash cloth, I sponge bathed while standing in the not-too-cold water. Then I rinsed using the tee shirt and water from the little bay. Although cold, it wasn't too bad and I never felt better after a bath.