The Lake is Calling, and We All Must Go … 40 Years Later Lake Wallenpaupack Swim
By Val VH Pate
Swim a 15-mile-long lake, all in one day, just for the fun of it?
Yes, that was my twin sister’s idea the summer of 1983 while vacationing at our Pocono summer cottage on Lake Wallenpaupack, Pa.
Donning our nylon suits and goggles (no caps) our parents dropped us at Ledgedale Recreational Area and we swam just over seven hours, with canoe accompaniment by my brother, supplying us with soggy PBJ sandwiches and water, until we reached Wallenpaupack Area School District Beach. We were 20 years old.
Fast forward 40 years, now 60, I wanted to commemorate this monumental swim, but I also wanted to enjoy it! No better way than to share such an adventure and experience with swimming friends, and I knew just the group!
I pitched my swim idea to a tableful of old swim buddies brought together for the USMS LCM Nationals in Richmond, Va., in summer 2022. These old buddies ranged in ages and professions, but our common thread was our Virginia Masters Swim Team and workout facility, Briarwood (now ACAC) from thirty years ago! We’d all met there swimming for Dr. Jim Miller. To my surprise, they were excited for the swim experience! The 40th Anniversary of “Swim the Lake” (Wallenpaupack) had been born.
Photo Courtesy: Val VH Pate
Summer 2023, July 20-24, six women, travelled 5-7 hours from their homes brought together by the love of swimming. We congregated at the newly constructed Van Horn/Pate cottage, for four days of swimming (2-3 miles per day), with a middle day scheduled for rest and relaxation. Never would I have anticipated the laughter, friendly banter, friendship and camaraderie that was experienced at this memorable reunion and adventure. Unfortunately, my sister was unavailable.
Day One (2.57 miles) found Cayce, Alice and I standing in the water on the Ledgedale Recreational Area Beach, the same beach, as I did with my sister, 40 years ago, donning our polyester suits, goggles, bright colored caps, wristwatches and belted orange buoys. I took it all in … the area had changed, the vegetation had grown up obstructing the view of the bridge, the boat docks had quadrupled in size as had the boats they housed, and the unanticipated accompaniment of the Ledgedale Dive Team on their pontoon boat sat waiting. The water and lingering morning mist brought a certain peacefulness to the early dawn and the impending sunrise. This long- anticipated swim/adventure was about to begin.
Pictures were taken, course sightings discussed, watches activated as we plunged into the 78-degree water just after 6 a.m. It was pure delight! My heart swelled with happiness as my arms churned through the water, together with my friends swimming, my smiling daughter, Kakie, kayaking beside me keeping us all safe. Is there any better feeling? At that moment all was right in the world! Today’s course called for the most navigational skills, as we swam through the narrowest and curviest sections of the lake, hence lots of head-up freestyle or risk collisions with anchored buoys!
Halfway through, rounding the point we encountered the blinding sun and glare as it beamed across the water. Kakie was ready as she supplied us with our darker (mirrored) goggles and informed us – “just a straight mile swim from here to the cottage dock”. One hour and 24 minutes later, we climbed onto our dock, having completed the first of four segments of “Swim the Lake”. We were all anxious for a hot shower, hot coffee, a hearty breakfast, perhaps a well-earned nap with an afternoon/evening of fun and fellowship.
Photo Courtesy: Val VH Pate
With a thunderstorm forecasted for the following morning, we all went to bed worried Day Two’s (3.19 miles) swim would be a washout. Awakened at 2 a.m. to loud claps of thunder and blinding streaks of lightning, the storm passed, and we happily congregated on the dock slightly before 6 a.m. with two new teammates joining us, swimmer, Donielda and paddler, Paula. With a coordinated “jump” off the dock we headed east (into the sun) along the shoreline, past Burns Island, through the channel at Kipp Island and up the southern shoreline to our designated stopping area. My husband, Don, was there with the ski boat ready to collect us all – 4 swimmers, 3 kayakers to load up the boats for the chilly ride home. Our day off was well deserved as it was spent relaxing, creating fabulous food and welcoming more teammates, swimmer Jeanne and paddler Linda.
Day Three (2.71 miles) found us in the middle of the lake, the longest and most wide-open section, with little on which to sight, we gradually swam away from the shoreline to cross the lake. We stopped several times for a breather and congregate.
Comical remarks were always made, directional instructions given before setting off again. It was at one of these stops Alice inquired as to the count of strokes it would take to reach Epply Island. Mmmm … about 800+ strokes later, by Alice’s count, as I lost track at 650, we set foot on the eastern shore of Epply Island. That morning and afternoon we celebrated! Mimosas and a hearty breakfast including Donielda’s homemade frittatas were enjoyed, with an evening toast of prosecco and booze cruise knowing after tomorrow’s swim, our group would be departing.
Day 4 (2.57 miles) – the coldest of all mornings (59 degrees) we boarded the boat and as we rounded the point, heading towards Epply Island, a huge magnificent pink painted sky welcomed us! It was meant to be! With a coordinated jump from the stern of the boat we began the final leg of our journey.
Stopping about halfway, in search of the beach, or even the football stadium lights, which were so prominent on the horizon a day earlier on our scouting trip, but this morning our destination was shrouded in mist, darkness and mystery. We swam on, discovering more seaweed and cold pockets of spring water.
Photo Courtesy: Val VH Pate
Nearing the shoreline, we spotted the beach. Savoring the moment, I took my time, no hurry, remembering 40 years ago this same moment, when I couldn’t wait to touch my feet down on that rocky ground. Now, I wasn’t quite ready to touch down, to finish this adventure, and with the slowing pace of the others, perhaps they felt the same.
We all knew what touching down at the beach meant. Our “Swim the Lake” adventure would soon be over, our precious time together all coming to an end. Having accomplished our goal, everyone would be leaving, going their separate ways, continuing on with their lives, wondering when we would see each other again.
Slowly we swam in together, cautiously stepping down onto that rocky beach at Wallenpaupack Area School District Beach, the same rocky beach my sister and I had triumphantly landed 40 years ago.
Together we stood, arms raised overhead victoriously, having completed the “Swim the Lake”, so thankful for the five days we’d shared together creating new memories with our old time SWIMMING buddies.
– Val VH Pate is a member of the St. Lawrence University Hall of Fame and a six-time U.S. Masters National Champion and six-time Senior Games Record Holder. She has completed open water swims from San Francisco to Alcatraz, and round the country in Lake Michigan, Lake Placid, the Potomac River, Virginia Beach and more.
Photo Courtesy: Val VH Pate