In early November the flurries are just beginning, but the idea of Jack Frost nipping at noses makes some students want to hibernate indoors until early May. Snow makes a lovely picture through a pane of glass, but others find their souls swooning in a different direction. "Woo-hoo!" exclaim the impassioned. "It's perfect weather for sledding!"
But who in college actually goes sledding?
"If you say that sledding's just for kids, that's a sign you've lost your sense of fun. You're really going downhill -no pun intended," said RC sophomore Karen Revitt.
If you are one of the chosen who responds to the call of reckless fun from yonder hills, there are plenty of different sled styles to choose from. Whether you desire the classic wooden model immortalized on cheesy Christmas cards, or recycled, eco-friendly remnants of a cardboard box, there are many choices for sleds around town. Meijer has just begun stocking their selection -from the Laserlube to the Torpedo to the Snowbuggy, there is a style to suit every taste.
"Inner tubes always go down backwards. I like the Radio Flyer kind because they go really fast - but as long as I'm not steering," School of Music junior Kirby Fowler said about her sled preference.
And there is always the popular practice of tray-sledding: Being propelled down a hill at warp speed on a plastic tray that barely has room for your bum. It's common for these trays to be former possessions of various residence hall cafeterias, and they are rarely returned after sledding season has passed.
"(Stealing trays) happens a lot and it does create a problem during heavy serving times because it's very difficult to keep fully stocked," Dining Service Manager Bill Mathiak reported. Mathiak added, "If (students) do bring the trays back, we find them lurking in various parts of the building and maintenance brings them back."
Once you've chosen your trusty Rosebud and recruited other adrenaline-seeking companions, you'll need a place to prove your prowess. Some students prefer sledding in Nichols Arboretum, as the Arb's beautiful, steep hills are also ripe for sledding just after a snowfall.
Although the sign in front of the Arb clearly states, "No Sledding," that doesn't deter many sledders from thrashing their way through the park anyway.
"I can see why it would be illegal because they have a lot of rare plants," said LSA sophomore Randy Howder. "But I went last year and it was a lot of fun. If you start at Geddes, you can go all the way down."
Besides the Arb, students use whatever they can to satiate their sledding urges. The hill behind Stockwell residence hall is known to offer a more mellow experience, while the slope at North Campus by the Art Building is also used by sledders. People have even been sighted trying to coast down Hill Street after a blizzard.
If Ann Arbor's version of sledding sounds too tame, you might want to check out what the Outdoor Recreation Center has planned. From Jan. 3-7, the ORC is sponsoring a trip to Michigan's north woods to give interested students an opportunity to "mush" a dogsled team. Participants will learn about harnessing, driving, and caring for teams. The $635 fee includes transportation, instruction and food.
Sledding can keep Jack Frost from ruining your winter. The feeling you get when you are lying at the bottom of the hill, collapsed in a broken heap against a tree is hard to re-create. You have upset the landscape. You have fought the hill and won. You have tamed the beast.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Students make use of a snowy run at the Nichols Arboretum. Sledding - it's not just for little kids anymore.