Belmont Family welcomes 2019 with a splash

CHELAN - 2019 has arrived and with that comes family traditions that are past on from generations to generations to welcome in the new year.

For example, night before it strikes midnight everyone in my family eats 12 grapes. Each grape represents a resolution or a goal the person wants to accomplish in the new year.

Yet, other families ring in the new year with “stupidity and pride,” by wanting to be the first people in Lake Chelan for the New Year.

The Belmont Family has been participating in the family’s New Year’s day dip for over 40 plus years. Claton Belmont, was the one who started the tradition during his college days.

From there on the family started going in the lake by the Forest Service office. “The event just became tradition and a challenge. Who isn’t up for a good challenge on a cold winter’s day?” said Laurie Kemper, Claton’s sister.

The last ten years the Belmonts have jumped in the lake at around 10:00 a.m.  “In the earlier years we would go in the early afternoon as many times we had out of town guests that had to travel several hours to be here to partake in the dip” explained Laurie.

Usually no less than two to three people participate, but it all varies from year to year depending on who can be there and if anyone is sick with the cold or flu.

“A few years my Brother Minet Belmont was the only one that went in, but  this year we only had six as several people had gotten sick a few days before,” Laurie said.

The Belmonts have rules for those jumping, they stipulate that you have to go all the way under the water, but it is up to the person how long they want to stay in the freezing water.

The coldest day anyone in the family could recall was around 10 degrees above zero. They remember their wet hair started to freeze and the swim suit fabric started to stiffen in the cold air. 

According to Laurie, “the only good thing about the cold air is that the lake feels warmer.”

Family members have also suffered from a few accidents here and there, “frequently stubbed toes, a few cut feet due to summer people throwing glass bottles in our lovely lake.”
Laurie recalls the time her brother Minet Belmont forgot and went in with his eye glasses, “it took a bit of looking for them.”

This family tradition has all members participating,  “good many of the niece and nephew population have gone in over the years and now some of them have children that would be old enough to start going in,” said Laurie.

After 40 plus years, the Belmont family dip, will have a third generation participating in 2020.

Do you have any crazy or unique New Year’s family traditions? If so let the Mirror know, contact us at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213.