<I>Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain</I><BR>Organizers of the 2010 Polar Bear Plunge into Wallowa Lake, Rodd Ambroson and Brian Concannon, congratulate one another on a New Year celebrated Wallowa style.

A hardy group of 14 individuals ages 10 to 67 celebrated the New Year in Wallowa County style, Jan. 1, with the annual Polar Bear Plunge into Wallowa Lake.

It was a plunge that almost didn’t come off this year, since the lake was frozen over on New Year’s Eve.

Organizers Brian Concannon and Rodd Ambroson, both of Joseph, tested the ice New Year’s Eve and found it three inches thick within three feet of the shore.

They tossed a couple of quarters in the clear water along the edge to mark where the ice began.

However, when Concannon came back the following morning with his boat and an ice-hatchet to see if he could chop a path through the ice, he discovered a New Year’s miracle – the lake had warmed up to a balmy 34 degrees overnight and thawed entirely.

“It only cost 50 cents to thaw the entire lake,” joked Rich Wandschneider of Joseph as he and his granddaughter prepared to plunge the following morning.

The thaw was obviously a sign, but plungers could also increase their luck for the new year by engaging in a plunge tradition – writing the attitudes they wished to be rid of, or goals they wished to achieve on a tiny slip of paper and ‘taking them to the lake.’

The plunge looks to continue for years, yet.

At least five young people joined their elders in the celebration this year.

Not only did Oriana Wandschneider, 10, join her grandpa Rich, 67, in the tradition, but Erik Hogg, 13, of Enterprise braved the icy bath and Zoe Matthias, 15, of Lostine celebrated her birthday with the support of her sister, Rae Matthias, 12.