Photo by Madscenery by Kevin Madson, provided by Visit Keweenaw The Polar Plunge scheduled for last month is back on and will take place from 1 - 3 p.m. today

HANCOCK – The Polar Plunge is on schedule from 1-3 p.m. today according to Jesse Wiederhold, managing director of Visit Keweenaw. The plunge was originally planned for Jan. 27, during Heikinpäivä, but was postponed due to extreme cold temperatures and windchills.

With today’s highs predicted to be in the low to mid-teens, Wiederhold said that is a much better temperature range than the single digits a couple of weeks ago.

The plunge will take place outside Takka Saunas, along the Hancock Boardwalk, on Navy Street.

Wiederhold said participants can change and warm up at Takka Saunas, with free short sauna sessions offered throughout the event, and they can also warm up in a sauna before taking the plunge.

“We also have a heated tent in addition to the three saunas,” he said.

Wiederhold said he is overwhelmed at the response to the return of the event.

“We almost stopped promoting it because of how much interest we’ve gotten,” Wiederhold said. “So far, (we have) about 90 people pre-registered to plunge, and another 150 who said they’re interested in taking the plunge. Not everybody from social media is going to come, but we’re going to have a good turnout of between 150 and 200 people this weekend.”

Wiederhold said he hasn’t seen so much buzz around something since the return of Jibba Jabba.

The event was planned with participant safety in mind.

Mercy EMS will have personnel present, said Wiederhold, and Coast Guard Station Portage will also be on hand. Station Portage conducted ice rescue safety training earlier this week near the bridge.

“The best part is, like I said, we’ve got medics ready to help if needed, and we’ve got ladders.”

Wiederhold said organizers are very cautious and warned there is to be no large groups permitted to plunge.

“Three to four people on the ice at a time,” he said. “We’re being very safe.”

Wiederhold said participants should wear shoes, sandals or flip-flops to keep their feet protected from the ice. “A lot of folks asked about towels,” he said. “We are not providing towels.”