Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Registration is now open for the Paddling and Open Water Swim
One of last year's participants, leading the pack as he swam the .07 mile route from Lyon's Ferry State Park to the Lyon's Ferry Marina. The event held the second weekend in August is organized by Lisa Naylor and many volunteers who make the swim safe and fun.
LYONS FERRY-The tenth annual Swim the Snake event will be held at Lyons Ferry Marina and Lyons Ferry State Park on Saturday, August 12, 2023, beginning at 11 a.m.
In addition to the non-competitive, open-water swim, event organizers continue to hold a two-stage, competitive (or non-competitive) relay, paddling in a kayak or paddleboard (only) from Lyons Ferry Marina to Lyons Ferry State Park across Lake Bryan on the Snake River. Upon arrival at Lyons Ferry State Park, paddlers can enter the water or tag team with their "paired swimmer" to swim back to Lyons Ferry Marina.
The non-competitive, open water swim begins ten minutes after the last "paired swimmer" leaves the state park. Better swimmers may return to the state park after arriving at the marina. Transportation will be provided for those who wish only to swim the 0.7 mile channel crossing. All participants are expected to be out of the river channel by one p.m.
Event information can be found at http://www.swimthesnake.org. Online registration is required and found at http://www.eventbrite.com/swimthesnake, including a link to the waiver of release of liability forms.
The event fee is $25.00 per participant and includes a bottle of water, a required numbered swim cap, chilled melon slices, and transportation back to the state park after the swim. The proceeds support the Regional Youth Summer Swim Teams programs and the Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council
Paddlers should check in at Lyons Ferry Marina, and swimmers at Lyons Ferry State Park from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Participants must sign a waiver for release of liability, available on the Eventbrite website or bring a signed copy to the event check-in.
Participants parking at Lyons Ferry State Park must have a one-day ($10.00/day) or annual Discover Pass ($30.00/year) authorizing parking within a Washington State Park. Participants may also call (509) 386-6021 or visit the website for additional event information.
Coast Guard Kennewick Auxiliary, Columbia, and Franklin County Sheriff's patrols will be on the river with numerous volunteers from the Washington State Parks and US Army Corps of Engineers personnel to provide assistance and ensure participant safety.
Lisa Naylor, the event coordinator is retiring this year and looking for a person to take on the event's planning. Naylor started the event in 2013, after moving to the area. She brought her love of swimming, water safety experience, and vision to make this a fun and successful annual event.
Anyone interested in continuing where Naylor is leaving off should contact her at (509) 386-6021 or leave a message on Eventbrite.com when you register for this year's event.
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