24 Brave Plungers Honor MLK Day With Snake River Ice Bath

Twenty-four community members gathered on the banks of the Snake River in Idaho Falls on Monday morning to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a collective cold plunge. Organizers prepared an opening in the river by chipping away four inches of ice, then participants jumped, waded, or flipped into 27-degree water in a ritual organizers framed as a celebration of MLK’s legacy and a demonstration of community resilience.

The event opened with Patrick Toussaint reading from King’s "I Have a Dream" address and recounting experiences of racism growing up in Miami. Immediately following his remarks, the group entered the river together. Participants described the plunge as symbolic — a physical challenge intended to mirror the courage King modeled. One plunger said the ritual helps to "assimilate some kind of toughness to overcome that."

For local cold-water swimmers and anyone curious about community rituals, the plunge offered both a tough physical experience and a public moment of solidarity. The combination of civic commemoration and cold immersion highlighted how local traditions can be used to mark national observances in ways that feel meaningful to participants. Photos of the event captured faces, plunges, and the cut-ice opening, documenting how the community staged a controlled, collective cold exposure for a civic purpose.

Practical details from the morning matter for anyone considering a similar event. Organizers cleared a four-inch-thick section of ice to create a safe entry and exit point, and the water temperature registered at 27 degrees. Those facts provide a baseline for event planning: measure ice thickness, clear a stable opening, and communicate water temperature to participants so they can prepare appropriately.

The Snake River plunge joined other locally organized cold-water activities that mix fitness, ritual, and social connection. In a small community, events like this can strengthen networks, spotlight inclusive civic themes, and offer newcomers a low-pressure way to learn cold-plunge practice from experienced swimmers. This event in particular tied the physical test of plunging to a reflection on civil rights and personal stories, giving it emotional as well as physical stakes.

What this means for readers is twofold: cold plunges can be more than solo endurance tests; they can serve as community rituals that connect physical challenge with civic values. Expect to see more groups using local waterways for commemorations and keep an eye on community calendars for future plunges if you want to participate or observe.