Feats of Silliness on Friday 12/21.

Scott gets ready for the shock

The polar plunge and camping on the ice were the two much anticipated/dreaded "features' of the trip. 

Camping was cancelled fairly early on. The sea ice was such that we weren't able to get to suitable camping spots. No problem for the MSU students - they staged a campout on the top deck. Twelve began at midnight but only 3 made it to 6 am.
As for the polar plunge, you had 2 options for getting it done. There was a pool filled with sea water on the boat. It was generally ~30 degrees with a sauna to run to afterwards. The water at Whaler's Bay was probably a few degrees warmer due to the thermal features on the island.

Some turned it into more of a challenge than others. The MSU students turned it into a contest-- who could jump in some icy water the most times. The last I heard the high number was 8. Plenty of passengers just passed on it.

The rest of us preferred the beach at Whaler's bay. The good news is, it was sunny and few degrees above freezing. The bad news was that few-degrees-above-freezing part. The trick is to get out of your foul-weather gear and under- layers, into the water, towel off and get back into clothing before your body knows what's going on.

It was COLD. But it was over pretty quick, too. Checked that box, done!