Swimming 140 Mies Across Lake Powell with Shane Schieffer
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Shane Schieffer, a lifelong adventurer, fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming the first person to swim the entire 140-mile length of Lake Powell—11 days, 146 miles, and 215 pounds of gear in tow. What began as a casual 'what if' moment during a lakeside hike 16 years earlier became a meticulously planned, self-supported odyssey. Armed with only board shorts, a stand-up paddleboard, and a mind trained through unconventional workouts on a VersaClimber, Shane pushed his body and mind to extremes, navigating by sun and instinct, battling wind, exhaustion, and moments of near-drowning. His swim wasn’t about records or glory, but about presence: feeling the water, embracing the struggle, and discovering the vastness of his own spirit in the face of nature’s scale. After the swim, he returned to land changed—his brain scrambled by the experience, his perspective expanded. He didn’t just complete a feat; he reconnected with what it means to be alive, to be present, and to say 'yes' to the wild idea that lives in all of us. The journey revealed that true transformation comes not from escaping life, but from diving into it with intention. Shane’s story is a testament to the power of quiet commitment—keeping a dream secret until it’s ready to be lived.
Swim 146 miles across Lake Powell in 11 days with only board shorts, no wetsuit, and a self-supported setup.
Train for a 140-mile swim by mimicking freestyle strokes on a VersaClimber, not in a pool.
Navigate by sun and instinct—swim with eyes closed for hundreds of yards using the sun’s position as a bearing.
Lose 20 pounds during the swim due to extreme calorie burn and inability to eat enough food.
Experience 'drowning waters'—a state of hypoxia and panic where even strong swimmers feel overwhelmed by wind and waves.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Birth of a Wild Idea
“I wonder if anyone's ever swam this whole thing. I just have always enjoyed the idea of big adventure.”
The Training Breakdown
Shane trains without a pool, using a VersaClimber to simulate swimming strokes. He tests his endurance with a 10-hour pool session, logging 1,250 flip turns and proving his body can handle the strain.
The Secret Phase
“If you talk about it, you won't do it because you get some of the recognition from people. You're spending what you need to earn before you've done the work.”
Day One: Into the Black
Shane begins his swim at Hite Crossing Bridge. He describes the surreal experience of swimming in pitch-black water, seeing only flashes of light with each breath, and the calm that settles as he enters the lake.
The Daily Grind: 10 Hours a Day
Shane swims 10 hours daily, eats 3,500 calories (half his target), and sleeps under the stars. He uses a paddleboard to carry gear and navigates by sun and instinct, often swimming with eyes closed.
“I think our spirits are huge. I think Lake Powell is... the size of a human spirit.”
“It feels like the water that good people can end up in a bad way.”
“I wonder if anyone's ever swam this whole thing. I just have always enjoyed the idea of big adventure.”
Host
Guest
Lake Powell
place
Shane Schieffer
person
Jerry
person
VersaClimber
product
Hite Crossing Bridge
place
REI Co-op MasterCard
product
Capital One
organization
AeroPress
product
The North Face
organization
Guinness World Records
organization
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