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Cold water dipping is life-changing for these women

09:46
On their first Don't Be an Ice-Hole Day, Kelsy Hartley, Caitlin Hopkins, Kelcy Engstrom, Penny Armstrong, and Betsy Dawkins spent about 2 hours sledgehammering their own dip pool at Crystal Lake in Gray, ME. (Courtesy of Kelsy Hartley and Caitlin Hopkins)
On their first Don't Be an Ice-Hole Day, Kelsy Hartley, Caitlin Hopkins, Kelcy Engstrom, Penny Armstrong, and Betsy Dawkins spent about 2 hours sledgehammering their own dip pool at Crystal Lake in Gray, ME. (Courtesy of Kelsy Hartley and Caitlin Hopkins)

A group of women in Maine don't let the cold of winter stop them from outdoor swimming. They go cold water dipping together — slowly immersing themselves in icy waters for an exhilarating few minutes.

Justine Paradis of New Hampshire Public Radio's podcast "Outside/In" spoke with them to find out why.

This group of swimmers bared the cold in the waters of Mount Desert Island, Maine. (Courtesy of Gin Majka)
This group of swimmers bared the cold in the waters of Mount Desert Island, Maine. (Courtesy of Gin Majka)

This segment aired on January 2, 2023.

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