Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wild swimming
One of the great pleasures of life outdoors is the
opportunity to swim in some truly memorable
places. Whether it's an early morning dip after
spending the night on a beach, or diving into a
mountain lake after a hard day's hiking, swimming
outside adds luster to any adventure. But before you
jump in, here are some ideas to bear in mind:
• Wild swimming is only dangerous if you're reckless
about it. Take some time to research and understand
local conditions, tides and undercurrents.
• Don't swim more than 300 ft (100 m) offshore
without some kind of escort.
• Before using swimming pools, part of the standard
process is to rinse off before entering. Likewise in
the wild, support the purity of backcountry water
sources by collecting water in a collapsible sink,
walking 200 feet from the water and rinsing
sunscreen, repellent, and sweat off your skin. Never
bathe directly in a water source and never use any
soap in one.
• If you haven't often swum outdoors, build up
slowly. It might seem a great idea to cross a river or
lake, but it's not such fun when you're halfway
across and running out of energy.
Taking a dip can be
exhilarating, but watch out
for strong currents.
