Swimming in the Potomac

[Anonymous]

Up by Harper's Ferry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The river near DC is notoriously treacherous. There are drownings every year from people who underestimate it. I wouldn’t swim anywhere in the river without a life jacket.

I think this is both true and an exaggeration. the river is quite treacherous after heavy rains, but is totally swimmable at other times. I have swum in it many times (near cabin John) but I only go in when and where there is very little current.

Lots of people swim in the river, we just kind of keep it hush hush.



https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/riverkeepers-seek-to-lift-a-50-year-old-ban-on-swimming-in-d-c-waterways
https://www.npr.org/local/305/2022/03/23/1088192692/time-to-lift-the-ban-on-swimming-in-the-potomac-and-anacostia-rivers-advocates-say

This is hubris. Sure, this person will almost certainly be fine. That doesn’t make it a smart thing to do.

I don't think it's hubris. I think it's sad that we have become such an anxious risk-adverse people. A century ago people swam in the Potomac all the time. My mother grew up swimming in the Mississippi River! Now that's dangerous!

Saying that the river is “totally swimmable” during dry periods is wildly irresponsible. That’s how people get killed. Someone says something like that and they see what looks like calm water and oops, they’re dead. I’m sure there are safe places to swim and I even support opening them for swimming with reasonable precautions. Telling people it’s okay to swim in the river without knowing anything about it is stupid.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it for all of the reasons listed here.

It really doesn't matter if someone's meemaw swam in the Mississippi. We also used to let infants ride in laps and kids sleep in car windows on road trips.

Swim in safe areas with lifeguards and clean water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teens like to swim at Scott's Run, although not strictly legal.

I hope they’re just wading and messing around by the waterfall and not going out into the river proper!

Yes, they are just wading around. They don't go out into the river proper. But it's a nice place to hang out and cool off after a hike.

I grew up going there and that is great and fun. Make sure they know not to go out into the river. A young man recently drowned there that way.

[Anonymous]

Potomac river swimmer here and the PP who posted the links to people drowning in the Potomac is just the kind of anxious type-A BS the DMV is over run with.

Do I need to list all the news stories about people who have drowned in the ocean? Or in swimming pools? It's many, many more.

Swimming in water is always a little dangerous. Just like you don't go in the ocean if there's a riptide, you don't swim near Great Falls, or where the currents are strong.

I mean this is common sense. People have been swimming in rivers for thousands of years.

[Anonymous]

I fell off my paddleboard last year and I’m perfectly fine. In fact, I my skin is absolutely glowing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac river swimmer here and the PP who posted the links to people drowning in the Potomac is just the kind of anxious type-A BS the DMV is over run with.

Do I need to list all the news stories about people who have drowned in the ocean? Or in swimming pools? It's many, many more.

Swimming in water is always a little dangerous. Just like you don't go in the ocean if there's a riptide, you don't swim near Great Falls, or where the currents are strong.

I mean this is common sense. People have been swimming in rivers for thousands of years.

It’s not common sense though. Most people have no idea how to judge the river’s currents and no idea how deep it gets or how fast. They don’t know what’s happening and they get sucked under. I would never tell someone to swim on a beach with bad riptides without being prepared, and those beaches will usually have red flags or some way for someone with expertise to assess the situation. The river does not. That’s how a strong young person dies on a fun afternoon at Scott’s Run. If you want to go out with people who are knowledgeable, fine. Take the risk. But telling people it’s okay to swim in the river and people who say otherwise are just anxious is a lie. The river is very dangerous, it deserves respect.

[Anonymous]

My uncle pulled a body out while fishing. True story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac river swimmer here and the PP who posted the links to people drowning in the Potomac is just the kind of anxious type-A BS the DMV is over run with.

Do I need to list all the news stories about people who have drowned in the ocean? Or in swimming pools? It's many, many more.

Swimming in water is always a little dangerous. Just like you don't go in the ocean if there's a riptide, you don't swim near Great Falls, or where the currents are strong.

I mean this is common sense. People have been swimming in rivers for thousands of years.

People have also been drowning in rivers for thousands of years. It's not a risk most reasonable people are willing to take with their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac river swimmer here and the PP who posted the links to people drowning in the Potomac is just the kind of anxious type-A BS the DMV is over run with.

Do I need to list all the news stories about people who have drowned in the ocean? Or in swimming pools? It's many, many more.

Swimming in water is always a little dangerous. Just like you don't go in the ocean if there's a riptide, you don't swim near Great Falls, or where the currents are strong.

I mean this is common sense. People have been swimming in rivers for thousands of years.

People have also been drowning in rivers for thousands of years. It's not a risk most reasonable people are willing to take with their kids.

Who said anything about kids?

[Anonymous]

From an article of a group that general advocates for it:

"Bottom line: It is illegal to swim between Great Falls and the Maryland/DC line for safety reasons, as well as within the District due to water quality issues."

https://potomac.org/blog/2022/7/4/safe-to-swim-potomac-river

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac river swimmer here and the PP who posted the links to people drowning in the Potomac is just the kind of anxious type-A BS the DMV is over run with.

Do I need to list all the news stories about people who have drowned in the ocean? Or in swimming pools? It's many, many more.

Swimming in water is always a little dangerous. Just like you don't go in the ocean if there's a riptide, you don't swim near Great Falls, or where the currents are strong.

I mean this is common sense. People have been swimming in rivers for thousands of years.

People have also been drowning in rivers for thousands of years.

[Anonymous]

It's not like it's an automatic death sentence. Sheesh.

It is far more dangerous to drive a car than to swim in the Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac river swimmer here and the PP who posted the links to people drowning in the Potomac is just the kind of anxious type-A BS the DMV is over run with.

Do I need to list all the news stories about people who have drowned in the ocean? Or in swimming pools? It's many, many more.

Swimming in water is always a little dangerous. Just like you don't go in the ocean if there's a riptide, you don't swim near Great Falls, or where the currents are strong.

I mean this is common sense. People have been swimming in rivers for thousands of years.

People have also been drowning in rivers for thousands of years.

You just be fun at parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From an article of a group that general advocates for it:

"Bottom line: It is illegal to swim between Great Falls and the Maryland/DC line for safety reasons, as well as within the District due to water quality issues."

https://potomac.org/blog/2022/7/4/safe-to-swim-potomac-river

Yeah the big drowning risk is above the falls. I see those people paddle boarding on the Potomac and can't imagine the filth.