How to Plan Night Sledding

When it comes to sledding, there is no better terrain than ski mountains. They offer steep slopes, long groomed runs and plenty of open space, however, most resorts won't let you touch a sled to the snow during the day because of the liability. In order to take advantage of the ideal conditions, you have to sled at night when the mountains are empty. It's a little colder then, but if you plan right, the rewards are sweet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A sled
• Warm and waterproof clothing
• Clear or yellow lens goggles
• A lunar calendar

How to Plan Night Sledding

1. Determine when the next full moon will occur and try to plan your sledding excursion sometime around it. If you have clear skies and a full moon, the light will reflect off the snow and visibility will be surprisingly high.

2. Wear warm, but breathable gear. This includes a hat, water proof jacket, and snow pants. On clear nights, the air is considerably cooler and well below freezing in the winter so you want to keep your core temperature up.

3. The lifts don't run at night so you'll have to do some hiking. If you layer properly, you can take off the jacket as you hike to keep from sweating too much.

4. Bring durable gloves and boots. You will be steering almost exclusively with your hands, and delicate or old gloves can get torn apart by the snow at high speeds. With hiking up the slope, boots with strong traction can make the trek a lot easier.

5. Wear clear or yellow lens goggles. Even if you are only traveling at moderate speeds on the sled, cold night air will make your eyes instantly water. Plus, you'll likely be sprayed in the face by some snow while coasting down a run. In order to enjoy the sights and to see where you're going, goggles are a must.

6. Watch out for snow cats grooming the trails. They work at night and they're probably the only other people you'll encounter on the mountain. Fortunately you can hear them from far away, and the giant lights on the front of the cats make it hard for them to sneak up on you. Stay out of their way so you don't get run over.

Tips & Warnings

• Ski sleds are perfect for sledding on the ski mountain because they can get going pretty fast, and they need a long run out in which to stop. If you want to create your own ski sled, check out the eHow article "How to Make A Plastic Toboggan Dangerously Fast".
• If you are riding more than one person to a sled, put the heaviest person in the back to keep the front of the sled up. This will cut down on the amount of snow-spray you take in the face.
• Sledding at night has inherent risks. Always travel in groups, let someone know before you go night sledding and have a good understanding of obstacles on the mountain before trying it. Even on bright nights, you may not see roped off areas, or small sign posts stuck in the snow.

[SmithM99]

on 7/27/2008 thanks, love to ski

[grouch]

on 1/7/2008 This sounds like so much fun. I will have to check and see if they allow night sledding at my local golf course. Great spot to keep the kids away from cars. Thanks for the tips.