Winter lake swimmers get a polar plunge with a dopamine chaser

Chicago braced against some of the coldest wind chills of the season this weekend, forcing many to remain indoors.

But George "Iceberg" Miller and a small group of friends did the opposite. They plunged into Lake Michigan.

A California native who used to hate the cold, Miller has been jumping in the lake every day this winter. What started at the recommendation of a yoga instructor, has become an opportunity for Miller and his wife, Jesy Grose, to meet new people as they plunge into the lake. Motivated by the sub-zero temperatures, Miller said he wanted to change the way people in Chicago think about the winter.

"Everybody complains about Chicago winters. It's so cold, yada, yada. Things close down," said Miller, who lives in Rogers Park. "I want Chicago to be a destination place in the wintertime."

He added, "I want Chicagoans, I want the Midwest, I want people to embrace winter, rather than complain about it."

On Sunday, as Chicago was under a winter storm warning that brought several inches of snow, Miller and his wife were joined by Hayley Kimbrueh and Tom Ashman as they ran into the lake at Oak Street Beach. The group played in the water for 15 minutes while the air temperature was 18 degrees with a windchill of 5 degrees.

"It feels really good after the first 30 seconds," Miller said. "It's terrifying at first, and it's really cold. But then, a lot of endorphins kick in, then a lot of norepinephrine, adrenaline and dopamine. All the happy chemicals. So it feels really, really good."

According to a review of 11 studies on cold-water immersion published in 2025, polar plunges may temporarily reduce stress, improve sleep and could even slightly improve quality of life. But the studies couldn't find a link between cold plunges and increases in mood or immunity.

Miller said he saw an immediate difference in his mood after the first time he jumped into the lake four years ago.

"I felt sensations with mental clarity that I think it's safe to say that I had never experienced before, and I was hooked immediately," he said.

Miller, 43, who works as a leadership, career and life coach, said he wants people to become a friend of fear to push them outside of their comfort zones. For Miller, the daily plunge is a direct and healthy way to be present with his fear and anxiety.

"I feel afraid every single time, and that's OK," Miller said.

"I'm getting my system to be cool with being more afraid in a space that's safe. It's not actually going to kill me, but I do need to be really careful," he added.

Before jumping in the lake during sub-zero temperatures, individuals must prepare. Miller said he advises people to start slow and build up to the submersion to make sure that the body is ready. If individuals are unprepared, he said the experience is terrifying. Additionally, if conditions aren't safe he said individuals could drown.

To keep himself and other plungers safe, Miller calls the Chicago Police Department Marine Unit ahead of time to let them know the group is getting in the water. With cameras along the lakefront, the group is being watched by the marine unit the entire time.

The plungers also wear neoprene boots and gloves to protect their hands and feet from going numb. Without the neoprene gear, plungers would be unable to feel if they got cut by metal or glass in the lake.

Miller's final rule is to never plunge alone.

Over time, that rule has helped create a community of other plungers who jump into Lake Michigan during Chicago winters.

"When I went into the lake for the first time, there were about five people that I knew of up and down the lake shore doing this," Miller said.

This winter, Miller said more than 100 people took the plunge into Lake Michigan's frigid waters.

When Miller and his crew reach the 15-minute mark, they climb out of the lake and head to a nearby sauna to warm up.