Once I was in the water the pain almost had me quitting but I persevered and benefited Big Time! What a rush!
Both The Ambiance And The Water Begged us to Take a Swim!
I have to say that this place was magical. The combination of the waterfall, the color of the water and the fact that the bottom was fine white sand made the desire to swim overpowering!
Could you resist swimming over to these waterfalls in Faido Switzerland? I couldn't!
What an incredibly beautiful and inviting place but beware! This was not the tropics!
At What Point is Bathing Water Considered Cold?
The water that we swam in was between 10- 15°C ( 50-60°F) depending on the depth and the flow. Many people might think that that doesn't sound cold because they are mentally comparing it to air temperature. That's a big mistake because there is no comparison!
Once water is below 25°C (77°F) breathing can already be affected. It is for this reason that the officialy accepted range of water temperature for Olympic competition is 25-28°C (77-82°F). In fact, when I first took the plunge I noticed that my breathing was affected and my legs and private parts ached! Yikes! After about 5 minutes I got quite used to the temperature and was able to enjoy the water for about 15 minutes or so.
Once I was out of the water my skin had a pleasant tingling sensation for several hours and I had an overall sense of energy, alertness and well-being!
That's me, "The Old Dog" on the right with my son on the left. The water from the falls was so powerful and cold that it almost felt like we were getting hit by hail! Not shown but also brave and present was the Steemit artist and adventurer @airmatti! He's a great guy and a talented artist so why not follow him? Maybe next time the mannequin @steemitri will show up and float around a bit!
"Oh what a feeling, what a rush!" I shall return soon!
Facts About Cold Water Swimming. What Could happen?
- 10-15°C (50-60°F) loss of breath, cold water shock, uncontrolled gasping and hyperventilating!
- Below 4.5°C (40°F) could provoke total loss of breathing control and could be so painfully cold that it feels like your skin is burning!
- Those not used to cold water swimming will find 21°C (70°F) to feel quite cold.
- Those used to swimming in cold water might find 21°c to be quite comfortable.
- It is important to know how you respond personally to cold water!
- gradually getting acclimatized to the water by entering slowly will reduce or eliminate shock.
- Body fat in cold weather swimming is an advantage. It provides insulation thus slowing heat loss and hypothermia. It does not, however reduce the risk of shock!
When High Body Fat Saved a Life!
In March 1984 a fishing boat capsized plunging 5 fisherman into the sea off of the coast of Iceland! Gudlaugur Fridthorsson, swam for about 6 hours in 5.6°C water and was the sole survivor. What was the reason? Gudlaugur Fridthorsson was heavily over weight! He had a mind bogglingly high Body Mass Index of 30 which made his physique similar to that of a seal! His survival was so amazing that the story was made into a film entitled "The Deep".
How long would I have survived? I'm not quite in seal territory but I do need to shed some accumulated blubber!
Amazingly, despite his ordeal, Gudlaugur Fridthorsson did not suffer from any hypothermia! Photo Credit
Interesting Temperatures!
- 98.6F (37C) Normal body temperature.
- 95F(35C) The point at which hypothermia begins. That's not much of a difference is it?!
- 85F(29.4C) Surprisingly water feels pleasantly cool.
What Has Your Experience Been?
- Will you swim in a cold swimming pool?
- Have you ever been in very cold mountain water?
- Do you ever take cold showers?
I hope that you enjoyed this article about " Skin Tightening and Tingling After A Cold Water Swim."
Until next time,
@kus-knee (The Old Dog)
Remember, if you upvote my post and leave a comment I will do my best to upvote it with some of my 41,000 plus Steem Power!
We use to swim in similar waters under waterfall all my childhood. Around 18 degrees. When it was 20 we said that it's warm. When we came out of water our lips were almost blue. I'm not sure but I think that maybe there is some connection with my joints and back problems I have lately, he, he.
18 is still cold. I hope that your joint and back problems aren't related to those swims. Maybe cold water swimming would even help.
I read long ago about a German guy Kneip. Some kind of doctor I think. He experimented with this but If I remember right he didn't finish well with that. You could check it out if you want. Google; you know.
I'm too busy for that. Thanks for the reply.
Take a place that is like a paradise, some bbq, good friends, add some good beers and a cold and regenerating swim. You have the perfect receipt for a memorable day! Interesting informations and thanks a lot for the mention!
Yea sounds so nice!
Wish I was there!
You were a brave man to enter that water @airmatti! You are correct about it having been a memorable day!
I don't know how to swim but will learn if I get a chance to visit such a beautiful place with relaxing waterfalls and Yes I will swim in the cold water.
You are a true adventurer! Just to encourage you, my Dad only learned to swim at about 45 years of age and it added a lot of joy to his life. Swimming is such a liberating feeling! If you can steal away some time why not take some swimming lessons?
wow!
That is just so amazing....so hard to imagine how someone could not know how to swim....It seems just so natural and easy.....Great story and encouragement there @kus-knee !
Right now I am 3 year younger compared to your dad's age when he learned to swim. I am very certain in these 3 years I will learn how to swim. Thanks a lot for the motivation dear brother.
What an informative post! It inspires me to accumulate some body fat now 😊.
All your pictures are soul refreshing and beautiful. I was thinking before even I started reading it, how cold this water would be and you stated the temperature to be 10-15 C (as if you took a thermometer along 😉). But isn't it feels much colder when this 10 degree 'hot' water falls on you from this much height compared to just taking a dip in a still water of same temp.?
I once dared to take a dip at the source of a holy river called Yamuna (a tributary of Ganga). When glaciers melt and the water start flowing into a stream, it isn't dip enough to even dive in. So I just laid down to get completely wet in her waters. But the water felt ice-cold and in less than a minute I felt some pain in my chest. I immediately got out of it and ran as fast as I could to a hot natural sulphur spring at some distance and dived into it. I still think that hot water spring was a life saver for me at that time. I didn't try to dive into the cold water again, when I visited the Gaumukh (origin of river Ganga in Himalayas), where it's quite deep though.
Actually we did have a thermometer! because my brother-in-law took one along! After the "pain" I really enjoyed the experience! Thanks for your story of what happened to you as well!
so I guess you're the ice man in Steemit now Old Dog?
I think its awesome to take a dip on such a brrrrr water!
would probably get stiff if I do
I can't stand the cold even though back in the Ph we only take cold showers ..
weird huh
but then the cold here is super brrrrr...
btw those pics looks so inviting!
it says - jump and plunge!
oh that's the same :D
You are not the only that mentions having to take cold showers! There are lots of advantages to that and it's worth exploring!
I would love to!
I wasn't really expecting a thermometer with you! I know you are good at making a reasonable guess anyway.
Oh, I missed what could have come after the "pain". I should have been a little more courageous. Next time will keep this in mind along with some BMI to safeguard myself. Thanks for your motivation!
Give it a try and take it slowly!
The cold waterfall not's a problem to the Super Old Dog! Very nice my friend!!! Tanks tos share this amazing place! (;
Yea he's acting like a young pup!!!
hehehe!...(;
Thanks so much for the visit @lordemau!
Another great post :) I've done the white water rafting in Terrace which is in glacial water. Everyone gets a special "dry suit" but your ankles, hands, and face are exposed. It was fun to do once, but I'm not running back to do it again!
An adventurous woman like you would be the first one in at this place!
Many years ago I did some scuba diving on ship wrecks in Georgian Bay Ontario in May. Water temperature? 1 degree! Full wet suit but any exposed flesh i.e my face, or any rips anywhere on the suit and it was PAINFUL!
Oh that will be hard for me to try indeed! I'm from Mauritius and the mininum temperature i've ever experienced here is 14 degrees celcius! Even in summer i take my bath with warm water....imagine!
If you visit such a place with friend the combination of beauty and peer pressure might help you to try something new!
What an amazing trip, beautiful waterfall. I'm glad you and your son share this experience. Thanks for sharing, here in Costa Rica we have not much cold water and I guess most are about 23-25C so I cannot imaging how could it was. I tried 'swimming' in the Oregon Coast ( my mistake thinking water temperature was similar to Costa Rica) almost cried when my feet touch the water and my friends laugh at me :P @OriginalWorks
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It does take getting used to!
Oh my! That's why we always wore wetsuits when kayaking the cold waters of Lake Superior, even on a warm day!
These waterfalls is amazing, wonderful place to relax...
I'm going to swim just only on 24°C :)))
24 degrees is understandable. @lellabird60 will rarely go in unless it's 28 degrees!
Great post! I love the fact that you brought the science and the interesting facts on top of the beautiful pictures and the person story. It was a really entertaining read :D
Sure, I'm not a very good swimmer but I don't mind cold water, especially in the summer.
I've been barefoot in really cold mountain springs. The water there is just a few inches deep but it is extremely cold, nothing like a cold swimming pool or cold sea water. Your feet basically start to hurt pretty quickly in there and it was not a sensation I could actually get used to, it was a sensation I could bear with for some time. But after you take your feet out and dry them, the effect is actually refreshing and nice :)
I sometimes do. I alternate between hot and cold water from time to time, just to keep myself sharp and refreshed. Generally speaking, when I shower, most of the time I use water that is cool rather than hot or warm, but not absolutely cold one.
There is certainly a pain threshold that needs to be passed and the feet is just the beginning. Once the cold touches your jewells you could be in for an experience. I'm so happy to read about your mountain water experiences.
I regularly swim in 20 degree water so I am somewhat trained!
Ouch, the jewels :P
I feel the mountain water was colder than 18 degrees Celsius which is a sea temperature I have swam in without the same pain. But I have no clue how cold the mountain spring was as having your feet in and the rest of your body out can probably create a big apparent difference. Also when you are swimming, you can warm yourself with movement while there is no real physical strain when you are just keeping your feet in the water.
I think I have experienced 15 degrees in the Baltic see in Estonia once, but I honestly don't remember the sensation that well and I think I was lucky to fall upon some weird warmer stream or something, so I have no clue what the actual temperature was and I couldn't use it as a comparison.
Well if you were tingling afterward it was cold! Lots of fun.
Wow that is absolutely beautiful!
Such wonderful photos. I would def want to go for a swim in that also!
I am actually quite used to it as we shower in a gold well shower every day here in @gardenofeden the water comes out at about 55 degrees every day of the year. We even shower in there in the winter time! hahahaha In fact sometimes it feels warmer in the winter because its SOO cold outside hahaha but then when ur wet and out of the water u get even COLDER!
Hope you experienced the MANY benefits of cold water plunges! have you heard of the Hoff methods?
I love your shower method. I saw the Hoff documentary done by Vice.... amazing!
Yup!
There you have it! Cold water is healthy water!
What a beautiful water fall. I don't think anyone could be able to stop themselves from swimming in such a beautiful place. It looks like such a celestial heavenly place but I guess looks can be deceiving at times.
10-15c in water is absolutely freezing however I didn't realise how lethal it could be. It seems like before I take a dip anywhere I should take some sort of preliminary test to make sure I'm not going to be jumping into my own death.
I'm glad having a high body fat is able to be a positive thing. Most people deem it as something repulsive but I don't mind what shape people are but it seems like (some of) society seem to prefer slim bodied people.
I guess I should 'wear' my fat with pride as it may help save my life in cold waters. I always tell myself I need to get in shape and that is seen from my old 'health' posts that I used to do ages ago but I've embraced who I am now. Thank you for this really captivating post @kus-knee
What a thoughtful reply. Thanks so. I have for your thoughts and for expressing your feelings!
Ciao cane vecchio,
this post was very interesting for me, because I like to swim in similar holes during my mountain hikes. You spent more than 10 minutes in the cold water; that's really a long long time! At about 10 degrees Celsius I can only stay in for about half a minute.
Here you can see me with a "gumpe" which I just used to cool me down:
Cold showers are always good after 15 minutes in the sauna.
Great photo thanks! Your low BMI while impressive is too good. Drink more beer! All kidding aside everyone is different but you can get used to it. I have an unheated pool at my home and I swim starting at 18°C otherwise it doesn't get used much. Even at 10 or 15° if you can get past the first few minutes it gets better!
Something i will never be tempted to try. I dread cold and cold water even more
Spoken like a true African/Philippino! It might surprise you however when you feel the results! I was also there with a guy from Haiti and he LOVED it!
Hahaha. My sisters though like cold. I know it heals though. i have tried freezing water but it was right after a sauna, so i didn't feel the cold much and it was just a split second immersion. I am glad to see you in this state and with your son; that's a moment!
This is such a beautiful post @kus-knee :) I have a lot in common with you! My father and I are going into the Adirondack mountains on the 16th and I can't wait. He's definitely shared with me the gift of appreciation for nature since an early age. WOW Switzerland looks unreal and after countless pictures and videos I've been seeing, including this one ..I just can't wait until I have the money to travel there!!! what an absolute thrill. In my hometown of Long Beach, New York we have a charity event / fundraiser called the polar bear splash. Everyone from all over Long Island gathers on our beaches in the middle of February and runs into the ocean !! theres nothing like it so I can totally relate! my goal is to be able to take my dad to Switzerland and share with him the beauty that you were able to share with your son:) thank you for such an inspiring post!
Very cool reply! So you did the polar bear thing? Sounds like you have a great relationship with your dad. That's great and it warms my heart!
Yeah man ! I used to do it yearly but I moved to south Florida a couple years back so it's been a while but I have an awesome relationship with my dad I talk about it midway through my introduction post right here if your interested https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@stevenalexander/well-hello-hello-steemians-i-am-steven-alexander-and-this-is-my-introduction
.. I'm just so excited to go on this backpacking trip !! Il be sure to post about it and keep you in the loop :p
Wow, it looks stunning! I can totally empathise with the water temperature. We have done amazing scenic falls and pools up near the lochs in Scotland and the cold of the water takes your breath away even in 'high' summer. It is worth it though for that buzz which starts with you for ages.
Gawda luv da buzz!
You sure gotta!!
Dang can't foolya widda Canadian slang eh?
Hehe, I thought you were going all Brooklyn on me! ;0)
@kus-knee - Sire, love your work. Swimming in cold water is not good Sire. I had that experience before Sire. Therefore, I wish to ReSteem your post Sire.
+W+ [ReSteemed & UpVoted]
Thanks a big bunch for the upvote and the resteem!
Yeah!!!! I will wait for your call!!! I can "float" in summer and in winter... no problem ;-)
Ma dov'è??? Questa volta non riconosco il posto :-(
Proprio Faido! Anche per me è stata la prima volta!
Bello... non ci son mai stato.
Leventina's icy water :-)
meep
Ive taken cold showers before to help me sleep but sadly haven't been swimming in a beautiful cold waterfall.
Make it a goal!
@kus-knee I think my toes turned blue just reading that! lol! But WHAT an experience!!! Those waterfalls look like something out of fantasy movie man!!! Water in itself is so energetically powerful... but compounded by experiencing fresh mountain water in an environment like that could be almost "life changing".
My brother once did the "cold shower" challenge. It was suppose to be for a month... showering in ice cold water but being the stubborn individual he is, he did it every morning for two months. In LONDON! Apparently the thought process is that if you can do that... you can do anything.
I thought it was a pretty darn cool concept (no pun intended. lol)
Very glad to know that nothing happened to your little boy!!!! - or you for that matter!
Those are some interesting facts too! Really a great and interesting share ;)
Thanks a lot @kjaynie, I really appreciate your thoughts and experience! All told it was invigorating and thrilling!
Pleasure 😉 and yes... it sure looked like it 😏
I did not have the opportunity to swim in such cold waters, but I am willing to do so in such a place. Congratulations dear friend @ kus-knee for that dip, who could resist a good swim in that waterfall and those transparent waters.
Thank you very much for sharing all this information and the beautiful images
I wish you a beautiful day with family and friends.
You always have such nice kind replies. Thanks! I'm sure that you'd love to try these waters!
beautiful
followed + upvote your post @kus-knee
Thanks for having a look!
Nice to meet you
I will always wait for your next posting @kus-knee
:-)
That's a great shot you took!
Very cool...thanks!
I been many times in Mountain lakes but i Neverland swim, i don't like cold water.
Sometimes i make cold shower but just when i'm buried by the sun :)
Wow what a nice picture, unbelievable that this also is in europe.. there are so many nice places... I hate swimming in cols water.. but this place would give me doubts to actually do it. I never had the opportunity to swim so close to mountain water. This years I was in belgium and swum into the river Ourthe.. But that was not cold at all.. Jope to see more beautifull places in Switzerland... thx again
When the water is that beautiful it pulls you in despite the cold, especially if someone else goes first!
Haha lol..
Wow.. What a great experience my dear friend The Old Dog..😊
Great place, awesome waterfalls and marvellous photography..❤
I never had a swim in a cold swimming pool.. But I enjoyed very cold mountain water about 20C in Sinharaja Rain Forest in Sri Lanka.. Also taken cold showers in Nuwara Eliya about 12C..🤓
Really enjoyed your post.. Upvoted..👌👍
Thanks so much! 12°C makes you very mighty! Wannacum! (I know how to pronounce it but not write it!)
Ha ha.. 😀 Ya I got it old dog...😃
well i have a experience to bath with cold water and it's pretty irritating yes it's difficult to breath in cold water and sometimes i also have a headache while i take bath with a cold water, but i take bath every morning no matter what are the conditions the is warm or cold it doesn't matter to me, you and your son did a fantastic job to take a bath in such cold conditions, the place is also so beautiful, i really enjoy watching and reading your post, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your personal experience!
"Do you ever take cold showers?" On many more than one occasion, I've been faced with this horrific dilemma. For whatever reason, you can't buy a reliable water heater in Chile. At least once a week, there would be my Dad and my brothers huddled around the damn water heater trying to get them to work. Many times they were not successful, I am very sad to say. I loathe a cold shower. But, we're back in the states where hot water has been mastered. I've never been tempted to take a dip under a cold water fall, I worry about you sometimes - LOL
You had a great experience in Chile and I'm sure that you grew a lot as a person! Remember, even the richest King didn't have a hot shower in the past. Believe it or not I think of that almost every time I take one!
Thanks for worrying about me!
@kus-knee,
Wow that would be an amazing photography of your latest journey! And I could see you had great experience with cool water bathing :D Yeah I had this experience before, and I wish I won't get that experience again :D
Actually at that time I feel I was frozen! :D
Really appreciate your work, thank you very much for sharing such great traveling experience with us!
(My voting power is still regenerating, therefore please allow me five more days to provide 100% upvotes for your posts)
Cheers~
I'm glad that you had the experience! Thanks a lot for your support!
@kus-knee,
You are welcome my dear friend!
Cheers~
Beautiful pics love to bath on waterfall. thanks for sharing.
Now you're tempting me to jump in there too!
Ha Ha Ha . keep going on.
Another great post ....... Great place, awesome waterfalls .....
Hope You Enjoy @kus-knee
Thanks a bunch Don McLean!
I wouldn't swim in cold water but if it was that beautiful I would have too!!
I know that you'd go in!
I never had a shower available as cold as you @kus-knee, happens to be my area of Aceh, Indonesia had a few tourist attractions, one of the attractions which have the coldest place is Takengon, Central Aceh district Capital, if you want @kus-knee could go on vacation to the city of Takengon. Indeed the famous area is the island of Sabang in Aceh, but if you go into the Takengon and Fresh Sea surrounds you will greatly enjoy it.
Regards
@safwaninisam
Thanks for the lovely photos!
Love it Old Dog! I'm in the water today myself ;-)
Enjoy!
Stunning beauty and greenery, thank you for sharing such a good post @kus-knee
Thanks for the nice picture: Looks like you're doing a good job there!
brrr I had chills reading this, it´s true
even though I have not been with you
swimming in the 15°C water, I see
this had to be
very cold
but you are very bold
to try
this is why
you get a poem :)
Thanks for the poem!
Nope definitely can't resist that view and the cold splash coming from the mountain. That's once in a moment experience so hell yeah will jump right into the water.
Good choice!
it looks fantastic by those waterfalls, it would be neat to swim there, although I have gotten really use to hot water these days, I haven't taken a cold shower since the 1980's
You can train by swimming in the river in Goderich!
Today i lose pieces. :)) I know @airmaitti, is in the italian Community on steemit, you're right, is really talented!
Si, quando siamo insieme io e @airmatti parliamo italiano!
Could you resist swimming over to these waterfalls in Faido Switzerland? I couldn't!, my answer is not the water looks very clear and cool perfect to pass a day there eatinng a sancochito hehehe
I've never heard of sancochito but it is now on my list for this winter!
Beautiful picture. Some how the image of a kung fu master / monk mediating on a rock right in the fall sprung into my mind. Must have read too much kung fu novels.
I agree that it would be a good spot for mediation!
That is wet suit temperature! Lol
I guess I'm too much of a sissy lala to do the cold water thing. Cold shower only if there is no hot and I NEED a shower. Even then I don't stand under it but as far away as I can and splash water where I need it.
I perfectly understand you but in this case the water begs you to enter and peer pressure dies a bit too!
Well, there is something to be said about taking advantage of unique experiences :)
Waterfalls are always so strong, nice to stand behind them and watch through the water, or feel the fall on your head.
About the cold water, just keep us warm by a good hug !!
You make excellent points!
I'm now cold, just reading about this! But maybe a cold shower/bath every now and then might be a good alternative to a face lift?
Hahaha, or in my case a tummy tuck!
Wowww this place looks like a Paradise!! I love waterfalls! They are so powerful and beautiful
with a crystal clear water.
But i'm not sure if i could swim there like you cos i'm afraid of cold water.
I told you that yet: you are very brave guy @kus-knee)))
If you were there you'd get the courage and the desire!
Everything is possible 😁😀😉
amigo #resteemia at your service
'Facts About Cold Water Swimming. What Could happen?' seem you had that experience. impressive photography @kus-knee
ReSteemia
'UpVote ReSteem Comment'
Thanks a lot!
Looks beautiful but deadly haha. I have been following the Wim Hof method for a while now and how he teaches breathing techniques to help your mind endure the cold. I have recently started to turn the temperature in my shower down and finish the last two minutes in cold water. This is so tough sometimes, but once its over i feel great and ready to rock
@jasonshick Way to go! You beat me to mentioning Wim Hof. How long have you used the Wim Hof method and what benefits have you found? I find his information and methods intriguing but haven't practiced anything other than cold showers sometimes.
@kus-knee I know what you mean about the difference between water and air temps. Big difference! I haven't seen the Vice documentary but did read What Doesn't Kill Us by Scott Carney and Wim Hof. It details some of Hof's history, early adopters of his method and how it helped them with diseases such as Parkinson's and the authors adoption of the Wim Hof method to climb Kilimanjaro
Another item I found fascinating and full of interesting stories and info was the podcast interview with Hof by Tim Ferriss: https://tim.blog/2015/09/07/the-iceman-wim-hof/
Also I might as well link to the aforementioned Vice documentary: https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/inside-the-superhuman-world-of-the-iceman/55a66a5c6d832c01483498c1
I have had good results so far, it really really sucks while standing there in freezing cold water, but after you are finished your body feels great
Thanks for the helpful links
Good for you! I saw the Vice documentary about him. AMAZING!
steemacation is still on i guess,haha. Beautiful waterfall though,and really looks like some natural swimming pool.
Yah it was a great experience!