anyone have any information, or where to get information, on swimming the straits of mackinac, such as: the history, who has done it, the distance from the lower to upper peninsula (7-8 miles?), water temperature and general conditions, coast guard regional authority? looks like it would be an interesting open water swim.
thanks, mark
Parents
Former Member
Yes. Exactly from the Bridge View park in St. Ignace to the lighthouse park in Mackinaw City (with subtle degrees of difference). We all agreed we would attempt to cross under the bridge with the eastward current somewhere in the shipping lane. The first swimmer out swam a perfect line, crossing under the bridge just after the shipping lane and hugging the bridge all the way to the lighthouse park. The last swimmer out crossed under at the start of the ship lane and, doing too much savoring of the moment, got pushed pretty far east, maybe 1/4 or 1/2 mile and then swam against current back to the lighthouse park. One swimmer went maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile west to start her swim and then claims she was pushed much of the way to the finish. True about the fun. As soon as we took our first strokes, we knew the water was warm enough to stay all day, so currents, wakes and waves were really exhilarating and made the swim feel like it went by too fast. We would love to try again on a calm cold water day to experience that as well. It would be a more frantic swim, I'm sure, as some of us might be racing against the fear of hypothermia. Anyhow, love to talk about it now that we've done it. Deep down, I'm a shameless self-promoter too if given half a chance.
Yes. Exactly from the Bridge View park in St. Ignace to the lighthouse park in Mackinaw City (with subtle degrees of difference). We all agreed we would attempt to cross under the bridge with the eastward current somewhere in the shipping lane. The first swimmer out swam a perfect line, crossing under the bridge just after the shipping lane and hugging the bridge all the way to the lighthouse park. The last swimmer out crossed under at the start of the ship lane and, doing too much savoring of the moment, got pushed pretty far east, maybe 1/4 or 1/2 mile and then swam against current back to the lighthouse park. One swimmer went maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile west to start her swim and then claims she was pushed much of the way to the finish. True about the fun. As soon as we took our first strokes, we knew the water was warm enough to stay all day, so currents, wakes and waves were really exhilarating and made the swim feel like it went by too fast. We would love to try again on a calm cold water day to experience that as well. It would be a more frantic swim, I'm sure, as some of us might be racing against the fear of hypothermia. Anyhow, love to talk about it now that we've done it. Deep down, I'm a shameless self-promoter too if given half a chance.
