#cold Joined the polar bear club on one of my visits to the arctic...a fellow from the U.S. Air Force decided to do it with me while others opted out. Not many can say they joined the club where actual polar bears are spotted so we figured 'why not'. None were in the area this day; even if spotted within a mile radius, getting in would not be an option. The remnants of an ice berg next to us are black in nature due to the high silt content. The ice was just on the cusp of build up. Water is extremely salty and cold. The 15 seconds it took to get in, submerge, and exit left us without feeling in ears and toes. I've experienced similar environmental conditions in combat, but not exposure that is so quick to remind one where they are. If you're curious to the location, open googlemaps and type in "Seawater Treatment Plant (STP), AK"...it will get you close to the entry point.