An Inspirational Tale

Mayor Spuhler Awarding Ned Phelps Certification of Swimming North to South of Bear Lake

An Inspirational Tale

A few years ago my dad Neal Phelps decided that he was going to swim across Bear Lake (North to South). Although, my dad had always been a great swimmer no one believed that he was in the right health to make such a swim. In 1996 my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer and had 4 surgeries. All of his recoveries were faster than doctors expected; proving him to be a fighter. He trained for nearly a year to do the swim of his dreams and on July 18th 2009 Neal Phelps became the 1st man to ever swim Bear Lake. He was 56 years old at the time of the swim and it took him 13 hours; starting and North Beach at 7am and ending at Rendezvous Beach at 8pm. The swim is over 20 miles and the water was 64 degrees. Robin Phelps (wife) and Dan Putnam (friend) road in a boat beside him the whole time. My dad never set out to be the fastest swimmer. He decided on his goal to be the 1st man on record to do it and that he was. He has often said "there will always be someone who can do it faster, but I did it first and no one can break that record." I love my dad so much and I am so proud of him!!!! He is truly a hero in my eyes! 

For more info here is the article from the Standard-Examiner that was written about my dad's swim:

Jul. 22--HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- It took Neal Phelps a grueling 13 hours to swim across Bear Lake, but fighting against the current is nothing new for the 56-year-old Layton resident.

On July 18, Phelps swam the length of Bear Lake from Idaho to Utah, a 20-plus-mile test of endurance in 64 degree water.Layton resident Dan Putnam, who monitored Phelps from a boat during his swim, said from shore to shore, the distance is just over 18 miles, but due to choppy water and winds, Phelps had some difficulty swimming in a straight line.

"Believe it or not, the water current was pretty strong," Phelps said. "It was tough to stay completely level. It was a battle."

Phelps has had his fair share of battles during his life.
In 1996, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and eventually had four brain surgeries to remove tumors.

"I was first diagnosed and had an operation, but then a year later, they found three more cancerous nodules that they had to cut out," Phelps said. During his bout with the disease, Phelps not only endured the cancer treatment that included the surgeries, but also suffered through severe anxiety and epileptic seizures.

"It was a tough time for me and my family especially," he said. "They never knew when I was going to drop down and fall to the floor from a seizure."

Phelps has worked at Hill Air Force Base for 21 years and currently serves as an Aerospace Engineering Branch chief. He has been cancer-free for 11 years and decided to celebrate by testing himself physically to prove he had fully beaten the disease.

"I guess in a way it was kind of like a midlife crisis," Phelps said. "My wife was glad I chose the swim, because it was a lot cheaper than a sports car."

Phelps said he was partly inspired to do the Bear Lake challenge by another swimmer who shares the same last name.

"It all started after I saw Michael Phelps in the Olympics," he said, quick to point out there is no relation between him and the swimmer who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. "I knew I couldn't win an Olympic gold, but I thought there was something out there I could do. Swimming Bear Lake was what came to mind."
Soon after the Olympics, Phelps began training daily at the pool at the Hess Fitness Center on base. He also did a 9-mile swim at Willard Bay in preparation for Bear Lake.
The 13-hour swim began at North Beach in Idaho at 7 a.m. and ended at Rendezvous Beach after 8 p.m.