The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

LYONS FERRY—The eighth annual SWIM the SNAKE event will be held at Lyons Ferry Marina and Lyons Ferry State Park on Saturday, August 14, 2021, beginning at 11 am.

In addition to the non-competitive, open-water swim, event organizers continue to hold a two-stage, competitive (or non-competitive) relay, paddling in a kayak or paddleboard (only) from Lyons Ferry Marina to Lyons Ferry State Park, across Lake Bryan on the Snake River. After arriving at Lyons Ferry State Park, paddlers can enter the water or tag-team with their “paired swimmer” and swim back to Lyons Ferry Marina.

The non-competitive, open water swim will commence ten minutes after the last “paired swimmer” leaves the State Park. Better swimmers may return to the State Park upon arrival at the Marina, and transportation will be provided for those who wish only to swim the channel, 0.7 miles. All participants are expected to be out of the river channel by 1 p.m.

Online pre-registration is required. Event information can be found at http://www.swimthesnake.org. The required registration is at the Eventbrite website, https://tinyurl.com/py6tbpym, including links to a waiver of release of liability and event registration forms.

The cost for the event is $33.67 per participant (including a $3.67 required registration fee). Registration costs support the Dayton and Regional Youth Summer Swim Teams programs and the Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council. The fee includes a commemorative T-shirt (if ordered before July 30), a bottle of water, a required numbered swim cap, chilled melon slices at the end of the event, and transportation for swimmers back to the State Park following the swim.

Paddlers can check-in at Lyons Ferry Marina and swimmers should check-in at Lyons Ferry State Park from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. All participants MUST sign a release of liability waiver, complete an event registration form, and be in good physical health. All required documents are available on the Eventbrite website.

Participants parking at Lyons Ferry State Park are required to have one day ($10.00/day) or an annual Discover Pass ($30.00/year) authorizing parking within the State Park. Participants may also call (509) 386-6021 for additional event information.

Coast Guard Kennewick Auxiliary, Columbia, and Franklin County Sheriff’s patrols will be on the river with numerous volunteers, Washington State Parks, and US Army Corps of Engineers personnel to provide assistance and ensure participant safety.