Go Together Life

Challenge #2 wasn’t planned but then again, neither was the part where two grown men accidentally collided in knee-deep freezing water. But let’s rewind.

After a long, hot day of driving along winding roads toward Sequoia National Park, we rolled into our Airbnb in Three Rivers ready for a relaxing evening. The plan? Unpack, eat dinner, maybe even sit down. The reality? A short “let’s check out the view” stroll turned into another legendary family challenge.

The setting was postcard-perfect: golden light, a winding river, majestic views and, as it turns out, water cold enough to make your soul scream. So naturally, someone suggested a polar plunge, and because we’ve clearly lost all sense of reason on these trips, we agreed that it would only count if your entire head went under.

The dads went first (because of course they did). Carefully stepping across slippery rocks like they were auditioning for a wildlife documentary, they lowered themselves into the icy stream. Cheers erupted as they emerged, high-fiving and triumphant, until gravity struck. In a glorious slow-motion moment, they lost their footing and went under again, this time involuntarily. There was slipping, there was flailing, and at one point, a rogue dad’s head collided with another’s backside in what can only be described as a shallow-water slapstick ballet.

Once we stopped laughing (briefly), the rest of us took turns braving the glacial waters. One by one, we dunked, squealed, and emerged victorious. Mostly. We’re proud to report that every family member participated, though Ally had to go back in for a do-over and Mandy’s head dunk remains a matter of heated debate.

Challenge #2 Scorecard: Sequoia Polar Plunge Edition 🧊

Name	Result
Adam	✅ Chill and committed
Ally	✅ Redemption dip required
Daniel	✅ No hesitation
Jon	✅ Double dunked, unintentionally artistic
Madison	✅ Took it like a champ
Mandy	🤨 The “maybe dunk” (pending review by the panel)
Patrick	✅ Stoic and soaked
Quinn	✅ Full commitment
Reese	✅ Brave and bubbly

🏆 Honorable Mention: The Toe Walk of Fame

Perhaps the most enduring memory of the night? Watching Jon tiptoe back to the house, carefully keeping his soggy feet inside only the very front edges of his shoes in a heroic (and oddly dainty) attempt not to soak them. A true athlete. A moment for the scrapbook.

Next up: Can we top crickets and polar plunges? Only time, and bad decisions, will tell.