How dunking in the icy waters of Lake Champlain helps one woman grieving the loss of her husband

I am standing in my water shoes, in the snow, behind the St. John’s Club in Burlington, Vt. I’m here with Gisela Veve.

Gisela is 50. She’s lived in South Burlington for three decades, and before that, she grew up in Puerto Rico. Getting used to Vermont’s cold, dark winters took some adjustment, she says, but she’s come to love it here, especially now that the lake is a year-round thing for her.

For almost a year now, Gisela has been a member of the Red Hot Chilly Dippers. She joined shortly after her husband died.

As one of the group’s regulars, you’ll likely see her on a given winter day, somewhere along the Burlington shore of Lake Champlain. The Chilly Dippers are pretty easy to spot — they’re the people in hats, booties and bathing suits, wading between ice chunks.

On this December night, they get together because Gisela is throwing a birthday bash for her friend Kika. And what better way to celebrate than to shed our layers and walk into the 42-degree waters of Lake Champlain?

The evening sky above us is cloudy and a pinkish-orange reflection of the city lights. In front of me, Gisela’s daughter Gigi gets hot water poured in her shoes by Kika, who brought along a thermos for this purpose.

Like me, Gigi has never dipped before. She verbalizes my thoughts exactly as a dozen or so of us begin walking into the purplish-grey water: “Oh my god, it’s happening.”

Gisela tells her daughter to breathe. Gisela demonstrates, pushing air out of her mouth in sharp bursts. From a small group out in front of us comes the assurance, “Gigi this is nice, I swear!” Then they cackle.

It is … not warm.

“Wakes up the soul!” Gigi observes.

A circle forms, most people sinking down so the water is up to their shoulders. In the center is Kika, whom the group serenades with a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday.” Then the countdown begins.

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