How to Build a Snow Ramp for Sleds
Large snowdrifts are natural playgrounds for children, as well as some adults at times. Sledding around snowdrifts and on downhill slopes can be made a bit more interesting with a ramp to send you and your sled flying into the air. This is an activity that is best suited for a sloped area, where an adequate clearing is available beyond the ramp to land safely.
You can make a ramp simply by piling snow up into a sloped mound, but to make it a bit more fun, add a little water to the mound to make it icy slick. As long as snow is on the ground, a simple hill and a mound of snow can create hours of fun for children and adults alike.
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Instructions
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Pile up snow at or near the bottom of a downhill slope. Try to choose a downhill slope with a path clear of debris or frozen plants. These can sting and leave welts if you try to sled through them.
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Make the pile about 2 or 3 feet high and 4 feet wide, then smooth it into a triangular shape using a large snow shovel. From the slope bottom, the ramp should start to escalate up to 3 feet, and angle up from the ground to 45-degrees.
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Pack the front down by patting it with the shovel, then pour water over the ramp to create an icy surface. The snow should form a shape resembling a triangle, but doesn't need to be precise. As long as the snow is formed into an elevating feature at the slope bottom, it will act as a ramp. The ice will accelerate the sled as it advances off the ramp.
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Tips & Warnings
Use caution when sledding, and only form a snow ramp away from trees, buildings, roads or steep drop-offs. The area you choose should have a large cleared area past the ramp that allows for a safe landing with the sled.
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Resources
- Photo Credit snow fun image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
