Escape To Pier 39
Posted by: 
brwhiz
N 37° 48.628 W 122° 24.645
10S E 551867 N 4184949
This Historical Marker is one of many mounted on building walls along the upper level of Pier 39 on the San Francisco Embarcadero.
Waymark Code: WMJF1B
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 11/09/2013
Views: 8
Escape To Pier 39.
The island of Alcatraz sits only 2,020 yards from where you're standing. Not a particularly rough swim for a young, healthy prisoner of the former Federal penitentiary...right?
Believe the convicts who tried--its tougher than it looks.
Of the many prisoners who tried to escape from Alcatraz, only 5 were not immediately captured. However, not being captured does not necessarily mean freedom. The five men were never seen again and it is generally assumed that they became victims of the treacherous water of San Francisco Bay.
The Bay has never been known as a swimmer's paradise. The water temperature hovers around 48 degrees, the tides are notorious and sharks have been known to wander through every so often. Consequently, recreational activities on San Francisco Bay are limited to power cruising and sailing, for which it is ideal. If you're a water skier, that's fine too. Just don't fall.
Fortunately, 99% of the time it's so cold outside no one wants to go swimming, anyway. Except, of course, for the former convicts of Alcatraz. None of whom could ever escape to Pier 39.