Save the date! – Sunday, August 29, 2027
The Cemetery Island Open Water Swim is a 5K race that will take place in Canyon Ferry Lake (near Helena, Montana) on Sunday August 29th, 2027. The race will start at 8 am and will include a 1-mile race as well. Both races will start and finish at Cave Bay (Kim’s Marina). The 5K race will provide an opportunity for open water swimmers to test their mettle against an around-the-island route in beautiful Canyon Ferry Lake. The 1-mile race will most likely be an out-and-back route. Signups will begin on January 1st on the Runsignup.com website. -Rod Benson (Bigskywalker.com)
Click here to see a photo album that shows my tentative plan for the route.
It will be a Helena day!
The event will bring swimmers from throughout the Northwest, promoting lifelong swimming and all the good things that go with it – fun, fitness, and friendship. Money left over after the bills are paid will be distributed this way: 80% to Aspen Adult Services, an organization that provides enriching services to developmentally-disabled Montanans, 20% to be saved for next year’s race.
A unique setting.
Cemetery Island was once home to a 19th-century hill-top cemetery for a town called Canton. The hill now stands as an island in Canyon Ferry Lake, and Canton was submerged as the reservoir filled following completion of the Canyon Ferry Dam in the the 1950s. The dam is 50 miles north of the headwaters of the Missouri. It’s a 20-mile drive from the State Capitol Building in Helena to the race site.
The “to do” list.
permission/permit (Bureau of Reclamation, $100), registration (RunSignup.com, includes waiver), registration fee ($45), participaton limit (100 swimmers), 3-4 timers, bullhorn, event liability insurance, 3-5 parking volunteers, motor boats and drivers, swim caps, T-shirts, logo, awards, set-up (course/buoys, start/finish line), 10-20 volunteers in kayaks, sighting buoys (borrow?), search and rescue presence, sponsors, packet pickup (at museum near Capitol?), publicity, post-race refreshments, etc.
Interested in helping?
If you’re interested in learning more about the race, volunteering on race day, contributing any of the items needed, or if you have expertise to share, please CLICK HERE to contact me. I hope to host a meeting sometime this fall at the Capital City Health Club (party room), which will be announced on the Facebook page (see link below). If you aren’t on FB, contact me – I will let you know when and where the meeting is.
- My first blog post about open water swimming.
Photo tour includes several photos of Cemetery Island. - Cemetery Island Facebook Page
Follow it for updates.
