Much as I love doing my first open water swim on race day(NOT) I am considering getting in the water sooner. My recollection is that WestHill is doable as of
Mem Day Weekend. Anyplace to look up the water temp?? Anyone else feel like hypothermia?
West Hill Lake Swims
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 kanastas |
West Hill Lake Swims |
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Posts: 345 (05/14/08 07:37:05) |
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cannondalejim |
westhill lake | ||
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Posts: 263 (05/15/08 09:39:54) |
Karen-I've been thinking about it--I'll try to check it out in the next few days
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nobikemike |
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Posts: 405 (05/15/08 11:18:14) |
Has the ICE thawed off yet?
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cannondalejim |
westhill lake | ||
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Posts: 264 (05/16/08 04:54:58) |
Mike-you can't let a little ice stop you
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kanastas |
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Posts: 346 (05/16/08 05:13:05) |
And how much thawing will occur in the next 3 weeks ever further north, I ask? I may be a better skater than swimmer...hmm..
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slowpoke |
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Posts: 216 (05/16/08 06:26:37) |
I've been in West Hill many times in May. Its cold but doable. Definately if you have a neoprene cap.
It was warmer than San Francisco Bay last year!! |
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sinkrswimmer |
West Hills Lake | ||
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Posts: 38 (05/17/08 05:53:50) |
I think at this point I would rather freeze to death than die of boredome from staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool.
I will be there....with a bottle of something to thaw the ice afterwords.... |
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cannondalejim |
westhill | ||
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Posts: 265 (05/17/08 13:13:28) |
I went up there today (Saturday)
I went in water--it was like an Ocean Swim---the Artic Ocean! The fishermen were looking at me like I was crazy All kidding aside, it was pretty cold, but it should be ok in a couple of weeks I wouldn't want to swim all the way to the island and back today I may get a neoprene hat for the first couple weeks, as suggested by Slowpoke |
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fftri |
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Posts: 22 (05/17/08 17:13:43) |
Being new to HEAT this year....
Are there organized open water swims at West Hill Lake? Where do you meet? What is the distance "to the island"? I've only swam there once; at last year's Litchfield Hills. Thanks: Mark Flynn |
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kanastas |
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Posts: 347 (05/18/08 02:00:11) |
Mark -
Yes there are a group off Heatsters who swim at West Hill Lake on Friday evenings. It starts at 5:30 or 6 (I forget which) from the boat launch. I will see if I can dig up the post from last year and put it here. The swim to the Island is about a mile, I guess. I'm the slowest swimmer in the group so most times I dont make it that far. So, where does one purchase a neoprene cap?? Karen
Last Edited By: kanastas
05/18/08 02:02:37.
Edited 1 times.
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offroad |
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Posts: 140 (05/18/08 05:28:08) |
I bought my neoprene cap through a mail order I saw in the tri magazines. I forget who but there are plenty. It wasabout 25$. I've used it in 53F. Makes it
bearable. Ray
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cannondalejim |
westhill | ||
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Posts: 266 (05/18/08 07:01:09) |
Karen-actually the distance is unresolved.
Ken/Cookie Monster actually wore a GPS in his swim cap to try to determine the distance, but it got messed up because he kept turning his head (even Ken has to breathe occasionally) We've gone on Google maps--but after much discussion, the distance is somewhere around 8/10s of a mile to somewhere near a mile That's the one-way distance As you know, some of the hardcore people swim a triangular course which is intentionally longer. Rob Ruby has swam a zigzag course that was unintentionally longer.---It helps to look up at a landmark even so many strokes. I found a couple of neoprene caps online for around $20-25 Anyhow, I'll be in there in two weeks, weather permitting. |
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nobikemike |
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Posts: 408 (05/19/08 04:38:04) |
Last Edited By: nobikemike
05/19/08 04:42:23.
Edited 1 times.
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nobikemike |
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Posts: 409 (05/19/08 04:41:54) |
Karen, I've seen them offered by Desoto. I've also purchased the neoprene ankle straps for the timing chips (very comfy compared to the nylon straps).
I also like the tri shorts. Desoto's focus seems to be triathletes, so much of the stuff they sell is geared toward us, and seems pretty reasonable.
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kanastas |
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Posts: 349 (05/20/08 04:57:24) |
Just ordered one -- hoping it shows up by next weekend
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cannondalejim |
westhill lake | ||
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Posts: 268 (05/20/08 09:59:56) |
Karen-I just ordered a neoprene cap, too.
There goes that excuse |
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nobikemike |
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Posts: 411 (05/21/08 04:33:18) |
Jim, Did you get the one with flowers on top?
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cannondalejim |
westhill lake | ||
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Posts: 271 (05/22/08 06:57:05) |
Mike-I'm too cheap to order the one with the flowers on top--I plan to glue my own flowers on after I get the cap
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