Chilling 'challenge' heats up online

Native American and First Nation people in the Pacific Northwest sparked a fun fad that has people all over the world plunging into frigid coastal waters, screaming and dashing in and out of rivers, lakes, channels, salt water beaches and leaping off docks and piers.

What has become known as The Winter Challenge 2014 has gone viral on Facebook. Young people with babies, grandmas in walkers, young and old have taken the cold water plunge.

It started as a family challenge on February 23 in Chemainus, British Columbia. From there it spread to Lummi and Swinomish, Tulalip and Alki Beach as Pacific Northwest tribal people challenged their relatives and friends.

Then it spread everywhere and to everyone, native and non-native alike. People were even taking the plunge in the warmer waters of California and Hawaii, and even in New Zealand, where our winter months are their summer weather months.

Loners, couples, even whole police departments have been getting wet, as people are challenging family members, friends, co-workers and political figures to join in the fun.