The Swimming Hole Rating System
A completely arbitrary means of assessing potential swim spots, from desperate drainage ditch dunks to dreamy alpine lake dips.
A general life rule of mine is that if there’s an opportunity to swim—or someone else is already swimming—it doesn’t matter if I just took a shower or I’m already cold or I don’t have a towel, I’m getting in the water. I’m no life coach but if I was, the “always swim if the option presents itself” rule would be one of the core tenets of my curriculum.
Swimming is such a reliable joy, and I think that if you haven’t been swimming much lately, you need to examine your life choices and go find yourself some water to float around in. To help you in your search, I present the Unofficial (and Arbitrary) Swimming Hole Rating System.

★ ONE STAR: Bottom of the barrel swim spot. Chosen out of desperation only…think a warm pond filled with bluegill and leeches, a drainage/irrigation ditch, a slough at the edge of a dairy farm, or at best
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