Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Drop of Death!
New Year is ushered in in unique ways in different parts of the country. Black eye peas and hog jowl are standard in the South with the belief that you will get $1 during the year for every pea you eat on New Year’s Day. That custom seems to be fading away because with inflation, one would have to eat a barrel of peas plus the appropriate amount of cornbread to have a good year. However, as old customs die new ones arise. In Anchorage it is the New Year’s Day Drop of Death Sled Race. It had its beginning on January 1, 2003, when a few hardy souls, some or all perhaps tanked up on too much Duck Fart or maybe it was just a double-dog dare, ventured up to Flattop Mountain with sleds and decided to sled four miles down a ski trail. At times the sledders reach 37 mph. At other times they have to pull their sleds on some of the flatter areas. The real adventure starts when they reach the Pigs in a Luge portion of the trail, assuming they make it that far. Most of the women, children and now sobered wimps have long since bailed out. The final furlong is marked by a 200-foot vertical drop, which could best be described as a ski jump minus a landing strip—the Drop of Death. No wonder I encountered three normally foolhardy teenagers coming down Sultana Drive in front of our house each of whom had decided to take an early option exit and risk a sixty-dollar fine since they would all like to be able to toast in the next New Year or did not want to be laid to rest along side their best laid plans. The last stretch does offer a runaway ramp for those individuals who suddenly see their whole life flash before their eyes. Unfortunately it does consist of numerous alders to brake the speed. It is a testimony to human intelligence that the few survivors who have made it thus far generally take to the alders. This year 49 individuals started the race. Advance registration is not required.
New Year is ushered in in unique ways in different parts of the country. Black eye peas and hog jowl are standard in the South with the belief that you will get $1 during the year for every pea you eat on New Year’s Day. That custom seems to be fading away because with inflation, one would have to eat a barrel of peas plus the appropriate amount of cornbread to have a good year. However, as old customs die new ones arise. In Anchorage it is the New Year’s Day Drop of Death Sled Race. It had its beginning on January 1, 2003, when a few hardy souls, some or all perhaps tanked up on too much Duck Fart or maybe it was just a double-dog dare, ventured up to Flattop Mountain with sleds and decided to sled four miles down a ski trail. At times the sledders reach 37 mph. At other times they have to pull their sleds on some of the flatter areas. The real adventure starts when they reach the Pigs in a Luge portion of the trail, assuming they make it that far. Most of the women, children and now sobered wimps have long since bailed out. The final furlong is marked by a 200-foot vertical drop, which could best be described as a ski jump minus a landing strip—the Drop of Death. No wonder I encountered three normally foolhardy teenagers coming down Sultana Drive in front of our house each of whom had decided to take an early option exit and risk a sixty-dollar fine since they would all like to be able to toast in the next New Year or did not want to be laid to rest along side their best laid plans. The last stretch does offer a runaway ramp for those individuals who suddenly see their whole life flash before their eyes. Unfortunately it does consist of numerous alders to brake the speed. It is a testimony to human intelligence that the few survivors who have made it thus far generally take to the alders. This year 49 individuals started the race. Advance registration is not required.
