What to Pack for a Sledding Trip

Winter is almost here and the first snowfall of the season has just roared in and landed in your town. What do you do with all of that snow? Why not pack up your favorite sled and hit the hills!

Packing some key essentials will make your trip a fun and enjoyable one.

Sled

There are several different types of sleds out there. There is the classic wooden sled with metal skis that has been a tried and true sled for many people over the years. This sled is usually a one person rider and can really sail down a good hill if given the right snow conditions. If you ever find one at a rummage sale or auction, be sure to grab it! These priceless sleds are almost impossible to find in retail stores in this day and age.

The plastic sled is usually the sled of choice if you are a speed demon. You will feel as if you are going 100 miles an hour when you slide down the hill on this one! If you buy a round plastic sled, be prepared for unknowing twists, turns and bumps along the way. While you will slide down the hill much faster than traditional sleds, a plastic round sled tends to be much lighter than other sleds. Be prepared to fly or go airborne if you are on a challenging slope. Twisting and spinning out of control can also be expected. Which ever way the snow and landscape is designed, your sled will likely fly over it and the landing can be whatever or wherever it decides to go. The most fun I feel is found on these round plastic sleds, just be very careful.

Toboggans are an old-time classic. These are very fast sleds and work best with three or more people. The more people on the sled the faster it will go. Be sure to lean forward and push your weight into the next person, this will make for much faster ground speed. Toboggans tend to be safe and will stay on one direct path. You do need to be careful for bumps and valleys, with the high speeds of this type of sled. If the sled hit's a bump, this could cause the passengers to go airborne, resulting in some major bumps and bruises.

Warm Clothing

If you are venturing outdoors be sure to dress nice and warm for the cold weather. Dressing in layers has the best effect. You can always take off a layer or two if you work up a sweat! Snow pants or a snow suit are good items to wear if you are sledding, these are sure to keep you dry and toasty! Waterproof gloves, a ski mask, hat and earmuffs are also good choices to keep exposed body parts warm. A hot pack is also a good idea to bring along if you are planning on being out all day. Hot packs are handy to use if your feet get too cold and chance are they will, this will heat them up fast. Don't forget to wear a couple of layers of socks, your feet tend to be the first body parts to get cold! Waterproof insulated boots are a must if you will be trifling though the snow. If you don't own waterproof boots, you can wrap your feet in plastic grocery sacks and then put your boots on, this will help to keep your feet dry.

Warm Foods

A basic light lunch or trail mix is a good idea to bring to a day of sledding. Your body will burn up a lot of excess energy walking up and down the hill. Walking through deep snow also burns up more calories than walking on a shoveled sidewalk. Bringing a thermos of hot chocolate is also a sledding essential. If you make up a large thermos just before you leave the house, it should stay warm for up to four hours.

A good idea would also be to bring a battery operated radio to play some of your favorite tunes.

One last thing is don't forget a few blankets. Even If you are away from the heat for a few hours, just having a blanket to wrap in, helps trap body heat and will keep you warmer longer.

These are just a few tips to help you venture out and enjoy everything that a fresh snowfall has to offer. Now all you have to find is a good sledding hill!