Hundreds of hearty souls waded into icy Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland on Saturday for the annual Deep Creek Dunk to benefit Special Olympics Maryland.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police had to cut away a thick layer of ice from the lake to make room for the 850 dunkers, who waded into the water from a spot near the Honi Honi bar.
“It looks like Alaska with the backdrop of the chunks of ice,” said Jason Schriml, vice president of communications for Special Olympics Maryland.
The dunk raised about $160,000, just shy of the goal of $170,000.
While the lake was covered in a 16-inch-thick coating of ice and the water was a frigid 32 degrees, the air temperature was about 50 degrees, Schriml said.
“It wasn’t balmy, but if you’re getting out in 50-degree weather, it’s not too bad,” he said.
