My trip report is one of the places this came up.  I "swim" every day, often morning and evening, and sometimes multiple times after getting to camp if it's hot.  The exception would be when the water is super cold, like in early May.  I put "swim" in quotation marks because it's usually more of a dip or soapless bath, but boy does it do me good.  David and I have even gone swimming in the pouring rain because it feels so good afterwards (and is also kind of cool when you're doing it, too).

When I was in college, grad school, and law school (I was a student forever) I used to swim for exercise, usually a mile a day.  I'm still a decent swimmer so on occasion I'll swim out to a little island or something, but mostly it's just a dip.

Occasionally.  We usually go in June, so how long I swim (and whether I do) depends upon the weather and the location.  Whether I wear anything depends upon if there appears to be someone around nearby.  Don't take a bathing suit, so it is either underwear or not.  Always swim from a campsite, and check out the situation carefully first.  Spartan1 doesn't care much for swimming and I usually can't get him to come in with me, so he serves as "lookout".

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Another validation of the solo trip or group solo if I ever heard one

The only times I have not gone swimming are in early May or Later fall trips. Many times I will take a quick dip to refresh myself after a long portage---that is probably what most of my "swimming" consists of--more of just getting in and out. A few times on really HOT days I have been known to swim for quite a awhile or just put the life jacket on and float around.

T

I think the craziness factor, for me, is dependent upon conditions.  Sometimes a swim is just to refresh when tired, dirty and sweaty and it is a quick dip.  But if you get a lovely beach, (admittedly rare) and beautiful sunshine (not as rare) it can be such a treat!

For me, what comes to mind is a July 3rd afternoon in 2005, the last full day out of our 11-day trip.  We had camped on the northern part of Loon Lake and awoke to a rainy morning.  We had intended to make a side trip to the Devil's Cascade, but decided to forego that because of the weather and we paddled the Loon River in what could only be called a deluge.  At times the rain was so heavy I (in the bow) literally couldn't see where we were going.

As we came into the south end of Little Vermilion Lake the rain suddenly stopped and the sun came out.  It was a very dramatic change.  We stopped at the campsite there, which has a sandy beach, and not much else to recommend it, and at first I said I didn't want to stay there, but as we looked at the possibility of getting everything dried out on the last night before the long trip back to Michigan it began to look like an OK idea.

That beach was wonderful.  The warm sun felt so good and I swam and swam.  That time I finally got Spartan1 to even come in for a short dip!  I remember it as one of the more pleasurable swims I have ever had in canoe country.

We had a resident spruce grouse for entertainment that afternoon, and a spectacular cloud show at sunset.  The next day we braved choppy waves and power boats across Crane Lake and hung around the Crane Lake area for the July 4th fireworks--which I would highly recommend if you are ever in the area on that holiday.