Water. It won't let me be. With summer winding down I've got a long list of jobs to do, work to finish. But there are days when I hear a seductive voice beckoning, "Come to me. Let me sooth you." And I can't resist. Usually it's the Hudson, the Battenkill or Lake George calling. All are old friends, easy to be with. Then there's the occasional flirtation with someplace new. This year it was Sunset Lake in Vermont. Charming but a little scary in its weed free clarity. I think Sunset has been hitting the aquatic herbicide bottle a little hard.
I'd like to tell you that I dive in and swim great distances. Graceful, one with the water. But I'd be lying. My style tends more toward some splashing, a little dog paddling and a lot of floating on my back. Then it's dripping wet naturalist time, wading in the shallows, becoming once again just a curious kid looking for snails and clams, frogs and turtles.
But there are people who actually swim. Long and strong. They have my admiration and also a little envy. Here in the Adirondacks we are awash with clear, inviting water. Swimming is a natural way to relate to this place. In this post we'll meet some of the interesting individuals who are at home in the water.
Lest I be relegated to sleeping on the coach, we'd better start with my wife. While Gwenne is certainly a graceful swimmer, she may be even better at writing about swimming. In a new book titled Called by the Water - When Diane Struble Swam Lake George, she has a great story to tell.
It was 1958 when Struble, a single mother of three young girls (Gwenne was the middle kid) became an instant celebrity by being the first person to swim the 32 mile length of Lake George. The book recounts that swim while reminiscing about what it was like to be the daughter of such a strong, driven woman. Also included are profiles of the diverse crew of characters drawn in by Struble's energy as well as a chronology of other swimmers who have challenged the length of the lake.
Carl Heilman striking cover photo invites you into the book capturing both the beauty of Lake George and seeming impossibility of swimming it. It's particularly poignant because Diane greatly admired Carl's art and they were friends till her 2006 passing. The reader will also find lots of older family and newspaper photos that complement the text, painting an intimate portrait of Struble, her family and her lake.
It's been a fascinating experience watching a book come into being. On days when I want to flirt with danger I kid Gwenne that it took her almost a year to write about something her Mom did in a little over 35 hours! In truth, it's a lot of work to research, write and get published even a small book. It wouldn't have happened without a grant from the Touba Family Foundation and partnership with the Lake George Historical Association. You can listen to Gwenne talk about the project in conversation with Teri Rogers on Thursday, September 24 at 7pm on the LGHA site. There will also be an actual live book launch event (outdoors, masks, distancing, etc.) at the LGHA Courthouse on Canada Street in the Village from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, September 26. Several people who have recently completed Lake George swims plan to attend. I know Gwenne would love to see everybody; to hear your memories of swimming, of her Mom and of the lake we all love.
ALSO CALLED...
Gwenne's book is the first in a Called by the Water series planned by the LGHA. The second will be by Louise Rourke chronicling her 2018 relay swim of the lake with Bridget Simpson. Rourke was a victim of polio at a young age but she has overcome the disease's lasting effects to live a vibrant, active life. Swimming and Lake George have been a big part of that life. I was privileged to read an early draft of Louise's story and found it emotionally inspiring. Look for Rourke's book in the near future.
Bridget Simpson partnered with Rourke in the 2018 relay swim as well as completing her own solo effort in 2017. Recently she's become interested in doing an 'Ice Mile'. Simpson talks about these accomplishments in a program recorded and archived on the LGHA site. She also has a blog that will appeal to anyone interested in swimming and the lake.
FIRST, LAST, FASTEST, FARTHEST...
While Diane Struble was the first, there have been many other landmark swims since. Just this summer Charlotte Brynn of Vermont set multiple records becoming the oldest at 54 years and also the fastest in just under 18 hours, a little over half the time of Struble's original effort. Then, as I was putting this post together, came word that Caroline Block had done a 'double crossing', swimming the length of the lake and then turning around to swim back to her starting point, an incredible 64+ miles! It may be an overused word but these are truly 'world class' feats. Both women hope to be at the September 26 book launch, a great opportunity to meet and congratulate two amazing athletes.
Lake George may be the crown jewel but it's just one of thousands of lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks. For open water swimmers this place is like being a kid in a candy store. Sometimes thought of as primarily a hiking destination, now people are talking of being a 'ADK 46 Laker', the swimmers equivalent of climbing all the High Peaks. Those who want to join in the fun might try the Adirondack District Masters Swimming site where you can get in touch with Bob Singer and others who can help you get started.
MAKING A LITTLE SPLASH...
I usually wait until after Labor Day to dip my toes in Lake George. The water is still (relatively) warm and the crowds have (sort of) thinned out. My go-to is a hike along the Shelving Rock shoreline followed by a jump in the lake. This year was a little different. We wanted to combine some paddling with swimming and opted for a family outing to Northwest Bay. The channel leading to the lake makes for sheltered canoeing and there's a great knee-deep sandbar for wading right at the head of the bay. That's where we found these neat spiral tracks made by mussels in the sand. They sure put a big smile on the face of this nature boy.
LAST WORDS...
I want to mention another book that will appeal to anyone interested in Adirondack waters. Sally Friedman's Swimming the Channel takes the reader with her as she crosses Paradox and Pharaoh Lakes, Gooseneck and Chapel Ponds. Friedman's themes are of love, loss and healing told by a woman whose strength and solace are found in water.
Like the rest of the natural world, Lake George faces many challenges. It needs ongoing protection and stewardship if it is to remain an idyllic place to swim, recreate and rejuvenate. Gwenne has been floating the idea of an annual 'Honor the Lake Day' to celebrate this irreplaceable treasure. Maybe you have some ideas of your own or would like to help make it happen...
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