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 the race area.
It will be a Helena day!
The event, which will take place 20 miles east of Helena, Montana, will be a fund-raiser for Aspen Adult Services, a wonderful orgnization that provides enriching services to disabled Montanans. Money left over after the bills are paid will be distrbuted this way: 80% to Aspen, 20% to be kept 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, which is shown in the photo above, 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 Shannon Boat Launch.
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, 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.
