What's Da Buzz?

For far too long, it has been a hit and miss situation of getting two things on my to-do list done. This past weekend, we finally got a chance to take care of one of them.

By © Guylain Doyle

The two items on the list are walking on the top of a lake and sledding down a hill covered with snow. How can I walk on the top of a lake? That would be due to Mother Nature and an effect of winter. If a winter is cold enough for long enough, a land-locked lake of medium size will freeze over and the ice will extend from anywhere from 4-10 inches deep. Is it safe to walk on? When it gets the right depth, you can safely walk on it. As a matter of fact, I saw a number of pick-up trucks and cars parked on the ice-covered lake as well as shacks where the individuals were cutting holes through the ice and fishing. Needless to say, it is quite the sight the first time you see it. However, this is the one thing left on my winter to-do list.

But we got to go sledding down a hill this weekend – almost 2 weeks ago. Like I just said, you have to experience it to fully understand it but I will do my best.

Because of issues of finding a suitable and approved hill, having available time, not having a sled, or having the time, the sled, the hill, the snow gear but no snow, it just didn’t work out until this past weekend. What an experience it is when you finally do get to go though.

What is it? Basically, you and maybe 1 or two more sit on a piece of plastic and zoom down the side of a hill skimming along the surface at the snow with no control after you start. If you attempt to steer, you have very good odds of tipping the sled over and rolling the rest of the way down the hill or sliding down it on your rear. How fast can you go? I doubt many have tried to clock the speed of a sled down a hill but I wouldn’t be surprised if you go 10-30 mph. Watch the video link to get a first-hand point of view of flying down a hill at 30 mph.

Our first trip down was based on a minor mistake my daughter and I made. We used the sled backwards. They aren’t designed to go backwards and we discovered that as we wiped-out. I ended up on my side kissing the snow and my daughter landed with her face planted in the snow. Did it hurt? Nope, it was a blast and we just cracked up laughing. Was it cold? Of course the snow that got in our clothes was cold but you are so bundled up and the snow is soft that injuries usually don’t happen normally. You can get injured if you spill out of the sled, ram something or someone, get hit by someone sliding down the hill, or slipping on the snow and falling on your rear when trying to walk back. But no risk, no reward.

Rules of sledding – 1) Use the sled in the right direction. 2) Bundle up. 3) Never stand in the way of someone coming down the hill as their speed can be deceptively fast. (Reaction time and ability to dodge is seriously diminished when standing in snow and ice.) Here is a visual reason why those three rules are so very important.

Thank you,

Anah

Related posts: