A breezy Swim the Snake

LYONS FERRY–Sixteen Washington and Idaho participates took the challenge of the 9th Annual Swim the Snake fund raiser on Saturday, August 13. The swimmers crossed the river starting at the park ending at the marina.

Lyons Ferry and the Marina were busy places with volunteers, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Columbia County Sheriff and Franklin County River patrol were in the river and on site, securing the area for the event.

Boats and other water craft, with volunteer safety personnel, lined each side of the 0.7-mile course across Lake Bryan, the Snake River area which passed under the 261-highway bridge. The weather was warm but windy, creating waves across the water, but that didn't stop the swimmers. They were determined not to let the less than perfect water conditions interfere with their quest. It took a little over an hour for all swimmers to complete the course.

The swim is a non-competitive open water swim for those 10 years and older. Those who are 10-14 years old swim the course with a responsible adult.

Participating swimmers starting from back left to right are: Lauren Richmond of Richland, Wash.; Jeff Pittman, New Port, Wash., Shane Erickson, Bellevue, Wash., Tejasvi Prakash, Moscow, Idaho, Fred Crowe, Dayton, Wash., Hannah of Bellingham, Wash; second row left Steve Pittman, Lewiston, Idaho, Mike Burns, Spokane, Wash., Dominic Truesdale, Spokane, Valley, Wash., Dimitry Truesdale, Wash., Toby Salazar, Walla Walla, Wash., Kay Mead, Walla Walla, Wash., Kim Zora, College Place, Wash., front left, Anika Burns, Spokane Wash., front kneeling, Clint Rehn, Walla Walla, Wash., and (Jeffery Rigg or Barry Klettake) black and blue swim trunks.

Proceeds benefit the Regional Youth Summer Swim Teams program and the Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council.