Trail seniors dive into October with Columbia River swim

Trail seniors dive into October with Columbia River swim

Published 5:30 am Monday, October 19, 2026

What is more refreshing than an October swim in the Columbia River?

Trail residents Eric Ackerman, 75, and John D’Arcangelo, 80, take the plunge at Gyro Park almost every day – spring, summer, and fall – and on Thursday, Oct. 8, they celebrated the upcoming holiday and potentially their last dip of the season.

“It depends on the weather,” said Ackerman. “The latest I’ve ever swam was October 18, but this might be the last day, because the weather is changing and the water is nippy . . . but this is great, and so much fun.”

The tradition is one that has been celebrated by Greater Trail residents for several decades. In Trail, a small community of seniors have celebrated several milestones including birthdays, anniversaries, and New Years, with many leaving their indelible mark on the rock known as the Whale’s Back.

D’Arcangelo has been swimming the river at Gyro Park in Trail for more than 60 years, while Ackerman had a late start and has been diving into the Columbia for the past three decades.

“It’s a big difference here,” said D’Arcangelo. “When it’s really hot we’ll be on the beach, it’s too hot to sit on the rocks. But when the water goes down, we come out here and it’s a big difference, much better out here.

“When you’re out on the rocks, you are part of the river.”

The pair also joined Devyn Hoyle who swam the Onion rings over and over again, showing her stamina and an uncanny ability to acclimatize to the chilly water.

“It’s cold and she has an incredible amount of resistance,” said Ackerman. “I don’t know how she does it, but she is a very strong swimmer.”

D’Arcangelo says that going for a swim is the closest thing you can get to a mood reset button.

According to ScienceInsights, the moment cold water contacts your skin, your nervous system launches into action.

It forces the cold receptors in your face to activate a nerve pathway that signals your brain to slow your heart rate while simultaneously constricting blood vessels in your arms and legs.

The blood rushes from your extremities to your core to protect your heart and brain. Some call the effect the dive reflex, an ancient survival mechanism shared across mammals.

The water also creates hydrostatic pressure around your body, and squeezes blood from your limbs back toward your chest.

Diving into the cold Columbia water produces dramatic but natural shifts in brain chemistry.

Research found that cold water exposure can increase noradrenaline by 530 per cent and dopamine by 250 per cent.

Noradrenaline sharpens focus and arousal, while dopamine is the chemical tied to motivation, pleasure, and reward.

Unlike other stimulants like caffeine for a quick fix, the dopamine increase from cold exposure tends to rise gradually and remain elevated for hours.

Which is why D’Arcangelo and Ackerman report feeling a sustained sense of alertness, clarity, and well-being after a cold plunge.

“This might be the last day because the weather’s changing,” Ackerman added. “But the sun’s shining, it’s a beautiful day, and this is great.

“It makes you feel alive.”

Be sure to take precautions. Those looking to dive into the Columbia should be aware of strong and changing currents, underwater hazards and drop-offs.

If looking for a place to swim, Trail’s Gyro Park beach is recommended within the safe swimming area, and be sure to go with a friend.

For seniors, consult your health-care provider before diving in. A person’s resting body temperature is about 36.5 to 37.5-C and cold-water immersion is stressful and carries risks for the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

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