How to Build a Sled Ramp
Sledding down a snow-covered hill provides an active winter sport for people of all ages. Depending on the height and steepness of the hill, you could slide down a sled at significantly high speeds. However, if you can't find a steep or high hill nearby, you can create a sledding ramp that allows your speed and vertical drop to increase.
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Instructions
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Gather up a large pile of snow in an area away from where you will build the ramp. Use shovels to pile snow into a wagon, or any type of container of your choosing, and transport this pile of snow to your ramp location.
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Dump the pile of snow onto the hill, preferably near the middle or bottom of the hill so that you will pick up enough speed to go up the ramp. Gather more snow as you go, if you need it.
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Form this snow into a vertical slope by patting it together with gloved hands. Compact the snow as much as you can so that it keeps its shape.
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Smooth out the ramp snow with the back of the shovel, and use the shovel to make sure that the top part of the ramp ends abruptly. Brush away excess snow around the ramp.
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With your sled, form an indention in the snow from the top of the hill to the ramp. Do this a few times until the indention is thick and slick.
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Sit on your sled, slide down the indented track that you created and enjoy flying over the ramp. If it crumbles, pack the snow together more tightly.
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Tips & Warnings
Gather freshly fallen snow for the ramp, because freshly fallen snow tends to be softer and easier to work with. However, you should let this snow sit in the wagon for a few days, allowing it to freeze and stick together so it molds easier.
For a fast, hassle-free snow ramp, cover a skateboard ramp with snow, or create a ramp with plywood that you can cover with snow.
References
- Photo Credit red sled on hillside waiting for more snow image by Carol Wingert from Fotolia.com
