Butts on Ice

In June the alpine heights of Colorado mountians still host broad bands of snow on their northern slopes. During our time with the Sonlight campers, I went on a hike to Alberta Peak. On the way down, some of our more intrepid girls discovered this opportunity:

And they decided to engage in the time-honored tradition of glissading. To glissade is to wrap a waterproof piece of attire around the waist and under the buttocks (usually a parka or poncho--garbage bags did it for us in a pinch) and slide down the packed snow. Here's one of the ladies getting ready to sled on her derriere to the bottom of this patch of snow (about sixty yards downhill):

But why go alone? Why not make it a team sport?

I know you're wondering: Yes, I did it too. How could I resist?

Let me tell you: garbage bags make great sleds. Who knew? What I didn't count on was how hard the snow was and how many bumps there would be. My tailbone still aches from the three rides I took. But it was worth it.

After all, how many of us can say we've glissaded? And how many of those know how to pronounce it?

~emrys