This week had me thinking back to the blizzard of 1996. At the time, I was ten years old and living in Hazlet, New Jersey. While I don’t remember the details, I’ll never forget the epic amount of snow and how much fun we had sledding, snowball fighting, and igloo building.
This year’s blizzard delivered a similar amount of snow and the follow up storm led to three snow days in a row. This on the back of a full week off of school for February break. Parents with young kids, I feel you. Monday was too treacherous to venture out, but Tuesday and Wednesday were the kinds of snow days made for lifelong core memories.
No matter the size, sledding hills offer timeless experiences for both young and old. The screens are away, the air carries laughter, and the smiles are wide. The blizzard delivered “heart attack” snow for the adults, but excellent sledding snow for children. Heavy snow that was easy to pack while still being light enough to cushion any falls and allow for effortless downhill gliding. Two hills in the area worth hitting are just a few miles apart, in front of Helen Keller Middle School in Easton, and near Madison Middle School in Trumbull.
For adventurous kids, the hill at Helen Keller is the place to be on a snow day. With its double-drop nature, there’s excitement and a sense of rhythm all the way down. It draws a crowd, but the hill is wide enough for plenty to enjoy at once. The snow gets packed down throughout the day, and therefore speeds are higher in the afternoon. The most daring among the crowd tend to build ramps, and there is something thrilling about watching small human beings launch themselves on their snow tubes, sleds, and snowboards. More than a few tumbles ensue, but none are ever serious enough to end the day. Riders dust off the snow and climb back up the hill to try again. It’s a wonderful sight to see.
An item to note on the hill at Helen Keller, there is a depression at the bottom that acts like a speed bump. More than a few riders have gone sideways after speeding down from the roadway above. It doesn’t look bad from the top of the hill, but unsuspecting riders will be in for a surprise at the bottom. Consider yourself warned!
For younger sledders, the hill at Trumbull’s Madison Middle School is more approachable while still being loads of fun. It’s both shorter and gentler than Helen Keller, though it lacks the rhythmic double drop nature of Keller’s hill. Generally less crowded than its counterpart in Easton, the laughter of young riders carries a bit farther. The higher pitched yelps of excitement have a way of lessening the sound absorption of the snow. Here too, older and more daring participants build ramps to catch some air. Overall though, the atmosphere is a little more laid back if you prefer to ease into the afternoon before heading home to warm up with some stew or your favorite cold weather meal.
The snow this winter has been a gift for the sledding crowd, and for the school-aged. They may have to tack on days at the end of the year, but the core memories made in the snow are worth the price. For the adults dealing with shovels, snow blowers, and roof rakes, this winter reminds me of Roberto Durán. No mas.
But on the hills and in those moments, it’s all worth it. None of the clearing matters, it’s all about the here and now, the laughter, and the pure uncomplicated joy of children going fast down a hill.
The Cultural Easton 