It’s 6:45 a.m. and cold — in the mid-30s — when I step onto the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA’s outdoor pool deck, a towel wrapped around my shoulders. Pink streaks punctuate the sky, and I can still see ...

While wild swimming during the depths of winter might seem like a slightly mad idea, it's a pastime that's becoming hugely popular. In fact, part of the ritual of this slow living hobby often involves ...