Celebrating Snow, Ice and Cabin Fever!
The genesis of the Bayfield Winter Festival started in 2006 when the Friends of the Recreation Center held a winter carnival and polar bear plunge. A hundred spectators showed up to watch 40 people jump through a hole cut in the ice to raise money for the local rec center. The event grew and expanded to three days of activities, and in 2010 was renamed as the “Bayfield Winter Festival”. Last year, over 1000 people participated in the various activities. The Bayfield Winter Festival will be held on the first weekend in March every year.
Polar Bear Plunge
The coldest polar bear plunge in 2008 featured 15 degree temperatures and 15 mph winds. The warmest was in 2010 when sunny skies warmed the air to over 50 degrees. For some reason, the water temperature has never varied from 32 degrees.
The plunge hole is typically open over 3-5’ of water depth. Full immersion of the body and head is strongly encouraged, but not enforced. In 2008, the hole was cut in the wrong place and water depth was over 7’, surprising many plungers in elaborate costumes.
The Bayfield Fire Department cuts the hole in the ice for the polar bear plunge. US Coast Guard personnel sit ready for rescue in dry suits by the plunge hole. Bayfield EMS brings their ambulance to serve on standby in case of emergency. In 7 years there have been no real accidents, although there have been many theatrical ones.
In 2012, a warm winter left no ice in the harbor for WinterFEST. The Madeline Island Ferry Line provided a barge for plungers to jump off.
Eric Iverson, Tim Faust and Scott Armstrong have plunged every year.
The oldest plunger was Jack Beagan at age 70. The youngest plunger was Jacob Sauld at 6 years old. After watching younger plungers exit the water in tears, organizers established a recommended age of 10.
Avantouinti is the Finnish word for "winter swimming". Health benefits include “stimulating mental processes, producing hormones which make the body able to cope with physical stresses and can increase the level of mental awareness and a feeling of well-being. It can also release stress, remove aches and pains, increase vitality and keep skin looking younger.” The Bayfield Winter Festival assumes no responsibility for the veracity of these claims.
Memorable and famous plunges abound, but our expert analysts rank Eric Iverson’s 2008 plunge as the best ever. After a long submersion, Eric broke the surface with a fish in his mouth.
The plunge hole is typically open over 3-5’ of water depth. Full immersion of the body and head is strongly encouraged, but not enforced. In 2008, the hole was cut in the wrong place and water depth was over 7’, surprising many plungers in elaborate costumes.
The Bayfield Fire Department cuts the hole in the ice for the polar bear plunge. US Coast Guard personnel sit ready for rescue in dry suits by the plunge hole. Bayfield EMS brings their ambulance to serve on standby in case of emergency. In 7 years there have been no real accidents, although there have been many theatrical ones.
In 2012, a warm winter left no ice in the harbor for WinterFEST. The Madeline Island Ferry Line provided a barge for plungers to jump off.
Eric Iverson, Tim Faust and Scott Armstrong have plunged every year.
The oldest plunger was Jack Beagan at age 70. The youngest plunger was Jacob Sauld at 6 years old. After watching younger plungers exit the water in tears, organizers established a recommended age of 10.
Avantouinti is the Finnish word for "winter swimming". Health benefits include “stimulating mental processes, producing hormones which make the body able to cope with physical stresses and can increase the level of mental awareness and a feeling of well-being. It can also release stress, remove aches and pains, increase vitality and keep skin looking younger.” The Bayfield Winter Festival assumes no responsibility for the veracity of these claims.
Memorable and famous plunges abound, but our expert analysts rank Eric Iverson’s 2008 plunge as the best ever. After a long submersion, Eric broke the surface with a fish in his mouth.
Mt. Ashwabay
WinterBash
This will be the fourth year of the BASH. Three bands in our maintenance garage, tubing, Candlelight skiing, horsedrawn, candle-lit sleigh rides, chili and dogs, local brews, and 750 of your best friends and neighbors. (We are about 90% sure we will be adding a downhill cheese race, sponsorship pending. Google ‘downhill cheese race England’ for details.)
WinterDash
WinterDASH, v2.0: We 150-200 participants. 5k of course, 15+ obstacles, designed to challenge you both physically and mentally. Great locations for spectators to watch the carnage as well. Finish with a downhill tube ride, then warm up with chili and relax with local beer before joining the WinerBASH.
Candlelight Ski
The Northland XC team puts luminaries out on the beautiful Sugarbush Classic Trail, which heads out from the Ashwabay Trailhead into the Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area. Enjoy the trail, then return to the WinterBASH to party.
Mt. Ashwabay Ski Area
Mountain Statistics:
Base Elevation:963 ft (294 m)
Summit Elevation:1,286 ft (392 m)
Vertical Drop:317 ft (97 m)
Skiable Area:65 acres (26 ha)
Annual Snowfall:120 in (305 cm)
Snowmaking:75 %
Number of Lifts:2
Uphill Lift Capacity:1,500 per hour
Types of Lifts:
1 Rope Tows
1 Double Chair
Number of Trails:13
Longest Run:1,500 ft (457 m)
This will be the fourth year of the BASH. Three bands in our maintenance garage, tubing, Candlelight skiing, horsedrawn, candle-lit sleigh rides, chili and dogs, local brews, and 750 of your best friends and neighbors. (We are about 90% sure we will be adding a downhill cheese race, sponsorship pending. Google ‘downhill cheese race England’ for details.)
WinterDash
WinterDASH, v2.0: We 150-200 participants. 5k of course, 15+ obstacles, designed to challenge you both physically and mentally. Great locations for spectators to watch the carnage as well. Finish with a downhill tube ride, then warm up with chili and relax with local beer before joining the WinerBASH.
Candlelight Ski
The Northland XC team puts luminaries out on the beautiful Sugarbush Classic Trail, which heads out from the Ashwabay Trailhead into the Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area. Enjoy the trail, then return to the WinterBASH to party.
Mt. Ashwabay Ski Area
Mountain Statistics:
Base Elevation:963 ft (294 m)
Summit Elevation:1,286 ft (392 m)
Vertical Drop:317 ft (97 m)
Skiable Area:65 acres (26 ha)
Annual Snowfall:120 in (305 cm)
Snowmaking:75 %
Number of Lifts:2
Uphill Lift Capacity:1,500 per hour
Types of Lifts:
1 Rope Tows
1 Double Chair
Number of Trails:13
Longest Run:1,500 ft (457 m)
Candlelight Walk on the Brownstone Trail
This 2-mile nighttime walk is lit by 200 candles imbedded in the snow, set up by 7 volunteers. Last year, 75 participants came from all over WI and MN. This event is free and open to all ages, including dogs.
Ice Road and Run on Water
During cold winters, the Lake Superior ice between Bayfield and Madeline Island will freeze and thicken enough to support the weight of automobiles. This ‘ice road’ allows access to/from the island that is usually available only by ferry, and is a joyous event for Island residents. The ice road can last for months, weeks or never freeze hard enough to open. The road is marked by leftover Christmas trees standing in drilled holes in the ice, and sometimes curves to avoid pressure ridges. The story of someone trying to trailer a pre-fabricated house to the Island on the ice road and having it break through the ice and sink is true.
The Run on Water is a race across the ice road from Bayfield to Madeline Island and back, about a 4 mile round trip. Participants can run, walk, snowshoe, ski, bike, skate, sled or use any mode of transportation they wish.
The largest race was in 2010 with 110 participants. Stewart Monte from Superior, WI holds the running course record at 26:55.
The Run on Water is a race across the ice road from Bayfield to Madeline Island and back, about a 4 mile round trip. Participants can run, walk, snowshoe, ski, bike, skate, sled or use any mode of transportation they wish.
The largest race was in 2010 with 110 participants. Stewart Monte from Superior, WI holds the running course record at 26:55.
Big Ice Golf
Big Ice Golf features a 9 hole course set up on the ice in Madeline Island harbor and played with tennis balls. Equipment is provided. Started in 2005, Big Ice Golf is a fundraiser for the Madeline Island EMS. Mainland participants have to drive, walk or skate over on the ‘ice road’.
A record 75 participants golfed in 2008. Golfers have come from as far as Arizona to test the course. Big Ice Golf went international in 2011, with Yasemia Ulasahin representing Turkey. The Bayfield High School Band played on the pier as golfers teed it up.
The course record is a six under par 30, set by Jeff Obst in 2005 and tied in 2007. In 2011, islander Joe McCarthy slipped & fell on his swing. Miraculously, he aced the hole; the tournament’s first hole-in-one was a double eagle! Ketzal Levens from Bayfield is the only back-to-back winner, in ’08 and ’09 in the youth event.
Over 14” of heavy snow moved the course to the ballfield in 2006, but with no ice or snow in 2012, the event was cancelled.
A record 75 participants golfed in 2008. Golfers have come from as far as Arizona to test the course. Big Ice Golf went international in 2011, with Yasemia Ulasahin representing Turkey. The Bayfield High School Band played on the pier as golfers teed it up.
The course record is a six under par 30, set by Jeff Obst in 2005 and tied in 2007. In 2011, islander Joe McCarthy slipped & fell on his swing. Miraculously, he aced the hole; the tournament’s first hole-in-one was a double eagle! Ketzal Levens from Bayfield is the only back-to-back winner, in ’08 and ’09 in the youth event.
Over 14” of heavy snow moved the course to the ballfield in 2006, but with no ice or snow in 2012, the event was cancelled.
Penguin Egg Hunt
In the Penguin Egg Hunt, kids 5-12 swim for floating and submerged Easter eggs in the indoor pool at the Bayfield Area Recreation Center. Sawyer Armstrong holds the record for most coins collected - $11.15.
The Ice Caves
During cold winters, Lake Superior will freeze over. If conditions are right (light winds and very cold temperatures) the ice on the north shore between Bayfield and Cornucopia will freeze solidly enough to allow walking access to the sea caves. These lakeshore cliffs and caves form colorful pillars of ice, frozen waterfalls and icicles that are simply spectacular. Seeing the ice caves requires hiking on the ice from Meyers Beach Road approximately 1-2 miles. For a conditions update on this rare and unique experience, visit here http://bayfield.org/winter-recreation-report/ .
