There’s something about starting a season the right way, and our first Alpine Swim Club event of 2026 did exactly that.
We kicked things off with a hike through Huber Grove Trail in Park City, a beautiful, shaded trail that felt like the perfect warm-up for what was ahead. The trail winds through aspen groves and pine, with just enough elevation to get your heart rate up without feeling like a grind. It was the kind of hike where conversations naturally flow. Some people chatting the whole way, others quiet and soaking it in, everyone moving at their own pace but very much together. By the time we reached the end, there was that familiar buzz in the air: legs a little tired, energy still high, and everyone ready for what came next.
From there, we headed to Wasatch Mountain Sauna for a private session that turned into an afternoon that you don’t want to end. If you’ve never done a hot-cold cycle before, it’s honestly hard to describe until you’ve felt it yourself. We’d pile into the sauna, let the heat soak into tired muscles, chat, sweat, and just exist for a while. Then someone would inevitably say “okay, who’s going first”, and one by one, we’d brave the cold plunge. The reactions were exactly what you’d expect: gasps, screams, nervous laughter, and then that wave of clarity that hits right after. We cycled through a few rounds, and each time it got a little easier, a little more addicting.
In between rounds, we spread out in the sun, towels down, eyes closed, just letting our bodies recover. We passed around sandwiches, and what started as a quick snack turned into a full lounge session. That’s the part of these events that’s easy to overlook in a recap, but it’s honestly one of the best parts: the unstructured time. No agenda, no rush, just a group of women hanging out, talking about everything and nothing, enjoying the kind of afternoon that doesn’t happen often enough.
What made this event special wasn’t just the hike or the sauna or the cold plunge, though all of that was great. It was the mix of people. Some were longtime GOAT members who’ve been on multiple trips, and some brand new faces who showed up not knowing anyone and left with new friends. That’s the thing about this community: everyone’s there for slightly different reasons, but it all adds up to the same feeling. Movement, challenge, recovery, connection.
This is what Alpine Swim Club is all about… hot, cold, sun, community, repeat. And this was just the first one of the summer. There’s something powerful about kicking off a season this way, setting the tone for everything that’s coming next.
More adventures on the calendar. If this sounds like your kind of afternoon, you know where to find us.
