Scottdale resident prepares for 10th annual plunge into Yough River
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
Jonathan Fox shows what gear he normally wears to the 10th annual Polar Bear Jump. He also brings canned goods for a food drive orchestrated by the event. He carries the donation in his backpack when he bikes to Connellsville from his home in Scottdale.
Jonathan Fox goes for a bike ride in his neighborhood. Fox has participated in every Connellsville Polar Bear Jump since its inception in 2004. He bikes to the plunge in Connellsville from his home in Scottdale, often wearing a costume.
Jonathan Fox, center, wears a Batman mask for the Polar Bear Jump in Connellsville in 2005.
Jonathan Fox goes for a bike ride in his neighborhood. Fox has participated in every Connellsville Polar Bear Jump since its inception in 2004. He bikes to the plunge in Connellsville from his home in Scottdale, often wearing a costume.
SCOTTDALE — Ten years ago, Jonathan Fox heard about a group in Connellsville who had the crazy idea to plunge into the icy waters of the Youghiogheny River on New Year’s Day.
“It was one of those things to check off my bucket list,” he said. “I loaded up my stuff, went over and did it, and had a good time.”
But the one-time adventure turned into an annual tradition for Fox, and also for some of his family members.
Fox, who lives in Scottdale, is planning to make the icy plunge into the Yough for the 10th time on Wednesday.
“It eventually just became a tradition,” he said.
The 10th annual Polar Bear Jump will occur promptly at 11 a.m., but those planning to take the plunge are asked to arrive at 10:45 a.m. to be a part of a group photograph.
Fox has made the ride from Scottdale to Connellsville on his bicycle to take part in the event, and plans to do so this year as well.
Some years he has dressed up in costumes, including Batman and a surfer.
“One time I wore a grass skirt and coconut bra,” Fox said. “A lot of people were amused, but my middle daughter who was in middle school at that time was just horribly embarrassed.”
He said there’s also a practical reason for jumping into the Yough.
“I never knew what it would be like to plunge into icy water and if you ever need to, if you see somebody who needs help in a frozen pond or something, I know what it feels like now,” Fox said.
The jump was originally organized 10 years ago by the Jacobyansky family in Connellsville and has since grown from 46 jumpers to more than 500.
“It started out basically as a lark,” said organizer Frank Jacobyansky. “Each year, the numbers have increased, and we know because we ask people to sign in. But this might be the last year for us asking people to sign in because it’s getting to be too many people to do that.”
Fox said there are no “hard-and-fast” rules for the jump and that some people just stick their feet in or wade into the water knee deep.
“I figure if I’m going over to do this, I’m going to go in the whole way,” he said.
Connellsville Area School District teachers will be serving hot chocolate to warm up participants after the icy dip.
Fayette EMS, along with New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Company, will be at the park in case any participants need assistance. An inflatable warming hut also will be awaiting the cold jumpers as they make their way onto the bank of the river.
Jacobyansky recommended that those planning to take part in the plunge wear an old pair of shoes and bring a dry pair to wear home. Towels, dry clothes and blankets also should be brought.
Polar Bear Club charter members are also asking participants to bring nonperishable food items that will be donated to Connellsville Community Ministries.
The Jacobyanskys are also trying to recruit the original 46 members who jumped in the river in 2004 to jump in the river again for the 10th anniversary. A separate group photo of the original jumpers will be taken Wednesday morning.
“I really appreciate Frank (Jacobyansky) taking a crazy idea and making it into a reality,” Fox said. “Sometimes I think if it’s the dumbest thing I do all year it will be a pretty good year.”