With the threat of snow this weekend I was reminded of the hours and hours I passed as a kid sliding in Minnesota winters. One could wonder if all these activities were concocted as coping mechanisms to allay the question Minnesotans often ask themselves this time of year, “Why do I live here?”
Or, Mankatoans can take advantage of some great local sledding hills like the group of MSU international students I saw at Sibley Park one of the last times I took my kids sledding on the infamous monster hill. They were on the hill looking to get the full-immersion Minnesota winter experience – and having a good time.
Sibley is renowned for a long, high-speed sledding experience. People take on this beast with anything from just their slick, nylon winter clothing to a tractor hood or a plastic bag — anything to reduce the coefficient of friction between them and the often glazed surface of the hill.
For those looking for more of a “bunny hill” experience, there’s Spring Lake Park in lower North Mankato. The hills are shallower and shorter and offers convenient parking at the top of the hill.
Buyer beware: if you take small children to Sibley, keep a close eye on them as I’ve seen several little people have their legs clipped out from under them because they didn’t move out of the way in time after reaching the bottom.
For those of you who know any of the kids in these pictures, you’ll realize these go back a few years.
