Frost & Fortitude: The Dangerous Rise of ‘Dry’ Winter Swimming
“Dry” winter swimming — the practice of exposing the body to extreme cold in minimal clothing — is fast becoming one of the most controversial offshoots of the biohacking movement. But while social media celebrates ice-bath bravado and mountain minimalism, rescuers in Poland’s Karkonosze Mountains are issuing stark warnings: this is not a trend without consequence.
The latest headline-maker? Actor and model Kamil Lemieszewski, who climbed Śnieżka — the highest peak in the Karkonosze range at 1,603 metres — wearing only underwear in temperatures plunging to -17°C.
A Viral Ascent
Winter swimming has surged in popularity in recent years, evolving from traditional icy plunges into more extreme territory. “Dry” winter swimming removes the water entirely, replacing it with prolonged exposure to freezing mountain conditions — often in little more than shorts or underwear.
Śnieżka, straddling the Polish-Czech border, has become an unlikely stage for these feats. Each winter, small groups attempt near-bare ascents, turning the mountain into a proving ground for physical endurance and mental resilience.
Lemieszewski — known to a wider audience as the 2019 winner of the Polish edition of Big Brother — documented his climb on social media. When he reached the summit, he revealed, the temperature hovered around -17°C.
“It is dangerous and poses a threat to health and life if you are not properly prepared physically, mentally, and in terms of equipment and knowledge — and without the supervision of another person,” he cautioned in one post.
Despite his near-minimal attire, Lemieszewski was not entirely unprepared. He wore gloves, a hat, thick socks and specialist footwear fitted with spikes, and carried thermal layers in his backpack in case of sudden weather deterioration. The expedition was undertaken in a group — a critical safety measure in such conditions.
Even so, the risks proved real. During the ascent, he fainted twice — a result, he later suggested, of oxygen depletion from the rapid pace and altitude. Visibility dropped to near zero amid snow and wind. Yet he pressed on, crediting mental discipline and inspiration drawn from figures like Wim Hof and Shaolin training philosophies.
Rescuers Sound the Alarm
Mountain rescue services are far less romantic about the trend.
Extreme cold exposure in high-altitude environments dramatically increases the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, cardiac stress and disorientation. Even minor injuries can escalate quickly in sub-zero conditions, particularly when skin is exposed.
In November 2025, rescuers intervened near Dom Śląski shelter after a 60-year-old tourist attempting a similar cold-exposure experiment collapsed with severe hypothermia. Her body temperature had dropped to 28°C — a life-threatening state requiring urgent intervention.
Professionals stress that the mountains are not controlled environments. Weather shifts rapidly. Ice conceals hazards. New or inappropriate footwear can lead to slips, fractures and immobilisation. Lemieszewski himself noted seeing ill-equipped hikers injured on the trail after removing spikes or wearing unbroken-in boots.
Biohacking or Brinkmanship?
Advocates of controlled cold exposure argue that, when approached methodically, it may strengthen immunity, enhance circulation and build mental resilience. However, experts emphasise a critical distinction: structured cold therapy under supervision is not the same as extreme mountain exposure.
Lemieszewski reportedly trained for three months prior to the climb and undertook the challenge alongside a professional athlete. He carried emergency clothing, energy supplies and hot drinks — precautions rescuers insist are non-negotiable.
But preparation does not eliminate risk.
“Mind over matter” may be a powerful mantra, yet physiology has limits. Hypothermia impairs judgement long before it incapacitates the body. In the mountains, bravado can turn to emergency in minutes.
A Trend at a Crossroad
The allure of pushing boundaries — of conquering not just a mountain but one’s own perceived limits — is undeniably compelling. Social media rewards spectacle. The image of a near-bare figure standing atop Śnieżka in a snowstorm is cinematic, almost mythic.
Yet rescuers continue to appeal for common sense. Hardening the body is not a competition. Exposure without knowledge, conditioning and backup can end in tragedy.
Lemieszewski completed his ascent without lasting injury and returned to work the same day. But his success should not be mistaken for a template.
In the age of viral endurance, the line between resilience and recklessness grows thinner by the season. And on frozen peaks where temperatures fall below -17°C, nature remains the ultimate authority.
