During the Nixon administration (the night of June 12, 1962) Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers attempted an escape from Alcatraz. It is unknown whether they succeeded or not, but it is doubtful they were able to manage the cold water and tumultuous currents of San Francisco Bay.

Fast forward to June 7, 2014, when 900 open-water swimmers left Alcatraz and headed for
Fisherman’s Wharf, mimicking the Morris-Anglin attempt in an event dubbed
Sharkfest Swim.

Among that daring group was Gabby Webber, 16, of Rhododendron; Hanna
Benson, 16, of Welches; and Ronnie Mitcham, 65, of Welches. There was no
mystery surrounding this trio’s success.

They escaped.

The dangers were evident: swells, whitecaps, wind and the notorious
reputation of the bay being infested by sharks.

Webber shrugged off the idea of being eaten by a shark.
“Sharks? They were never a concern,” she said.

Benson had done her shark research in advance.

“I Googled shark attacks (before I went),” she said. “I found out there are
more vending machine deaths than shark attack deaths.”

Mitcham, who was facing the shark challenge for the second consecutive year,
confessed only a slight concern.

“Before jumping in, yes, they crossed my mind,” she said. “But once in the
water you have to focus.”

And the Mountain trio kept going. In fact, Mitcham won her age class (65 and
over) in a crisp 62 minutes. Webber and Benson weren’t far behind, sticking
together throughout the 1.5-mile swim and finishing in 63 minutes.

The journey through the frigid 58-degree bay waters attracted swimmers from
38 states and 18 countries – including ages from 10 to 81, plus three disabled
veterans and the Mountain entrants.

There were boat escorts along the route, with monitors prepared to pluck
swimmers who got in trouble.

“Every second it was like I was never going to make it,” Benson said. “But
there was no way I was getting out of the water.”

“It seemed like I was not moving at all,” Webber said. “Every time I looked up
the shore wasn’t getting any closer.”

“You just keep going,” Mitcham said. “But the conditions this year were a lot
more of a challenge (than last year).”

Mitcham swam competitively as a youngster but took a break from her fitness
regimen during her middle-aged years. Later, she decided to get healthy
again and started swim training at Mount Hood Athletic Club in Sandy.

Webber and Benson prepped for Sharkfest as members of the Sandy High
swim and water polo teams.

Mitcham’s next adventure is to take on the Crater Lake Rim Run in August.
For Webber and Benson, they can’t wait until they’re 18. They want to sky
dive.

It should be safe enough. There won’t be any sharks.