If you can see Mt. Baker, you are part of The Experience
There's something magical about white flakes falling from the sky. As the first ones materialize, our mind starts to wander. Our hands begin to move as we form snowballs in our mind. We check the fridge to see if there's a carrot to serve as a nose, and we envision the white world we will see as we look up while making a snow angel.
Snow represents a nostalgic kind of fun that never goes out of style. Of all the ways to play in the snow, the joy of sledding is unmatched. Yes, sledding has evolved into all sorts of sports and gear, but in its simplest form, whether standing, sitting, or lying, it all boils down to slipping and sliding down a slope on a slick gift from Mother Nature.
As kids, those first snowflakes were not only a sign of the fun to be had but of freedom. I was always happy to trade a winter day off for an extra day of school in June. As the snow fell, I sat by the radio hoping to hear my school on the closure report. It's now e-mails, robocalls, and text messages, but the result is the same. That glorious snow day means digging out the winter clothes, exhuming the sleds from the depths of the garage, and heading out into the winter wonderland. The littlest of slopes become a playground to slip and slide down. As the snow accumulates and neighbors emerge from their homes, the risk (and fun) level rises. The neighborhood opens up, and soon any hill becomes fair game. Flung over your shoulder or pulled by a rope, your sled is your trusty steed. Self preservation goes out the window as you and your friends fly down hills, knowing wipeouts will be cushioned by the powdery snow and layers of clothes.
It is on these snowy days that adrenaline junkies are born. It begins with a larger hill. Then a couple of friends hop on together, ending up in a tangled mess at the bottom of the run. Next, someone starts compacting snow at the bottom of a slope, installing a jump that is sure to send puffball beanies flying through the air. Finally, in a daring act of brilliance, a kid launches themself down the hill. Yes, there may be injuries, potentially some tears, but also a level of excitement that can inspire a lifetime of snowy adventures.
While the lowlands of Whatcom County in most years will provide at least a few fun-filled days of snowy play, there is no guarantee, and the timing is unpredictable. Some years we get a good dumping, creating a winter wonderland, and others we barely get enough to hide the grass below.
Fortunately, all we have to do is look east to find snow in the distance. The snowy cap of Mt. Baker is a reminder that all winter long, a sledding adventure is within reach. We can pile in the car and head through Deming, Kendall, Maple Falls, and Glacier as we make our way up the mountain to a snowy world. As we wind around corners, the snow builds alongside us until we reach the bowl by the ski area. Stepping out of the car, you can hear the screams of joy as kids and parents throw caution to the wind, hurling themselves down the sledding runs. All around, people launch themselves down the hill on whatever slick object they could find to ride. There are the newest store-bought sleds designed to shoot people down the slopes like a toboggan run, and classics garnering ’80s cartoon characters that are so scratched up they must be urged to move through the snow. Inflated inner tubes bounce people down the slopes, often ending in bodies flying at the end. If the mountain was calling and there was no time for a traditional sled to be found, there's a chance you will see a bright blue tarp or an air mattress being used as the day's vehicle. Inevitably, some will abandon the sleds altogether, body surfing down the slope on their swishy snow clothes.
No matter how the wintery fun is enjoyed, all that matters is the laughing and playing that happens when everyone becomes a kid while riding a sled. A day of sledding should always end the same way, with a hot cup of cocoa. Whether out of a thermos on a tailgate or sitting by a roaring fire, the day is completed by sipping the chocolate-y goodness while laughing and sharing the tales of racing down the slopes. X
