Are you taking a New Year's Day dip?

COEUR d'ALENE - It's cold and wet, but for hundreds of people the New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge has become a tradition.

And once again it is set for its traditional time and place, noon on New Year's Day at Sanders Beach.

Roughly 500 people show up every year to run into the lake, dive under, and run back out even faster. The first unofficial Polar Bear Plunge occurred Nov. 21, 1978.

According to lakecoeurdalene.com, the temperature of the lake water was 43 degrees on Dec. 5, and it should grow a little colder by Jan. 1.

The National Weather service is predicting good weather for New Year's Day, with temperatures in the mid-20s.

For those who want to be a Polar Bear Plunger, bring:

* Towels for drying off and for standing on.

* Wear sandals, aqua socks, or old tennis shoes. Running barefoot can be painful.

* Coffee or hot chocolate is good.

* Support crew to help you get back into dry clothes and encourage you in case you change your mind in the final minutes.

Some advice: Don't stay in the water too long. Get in, get out, dry off. If you're feeling fine, some double dip.

Be sure to arrive early, about 30 minutes or so. There will be plenty of traffic and parking can be difficult to find. You should expect to walk several blocks to get to the plunge on the west end of Sanders Beach.