Sledding on Etna

Posted on February 24, 2008 
Filed Under General

Well Etna has had snow on her for some time now, we’ve been up near the snowline in Bronte to sled, but didn’t have much success. I’ve been wanting toavoind Etna Sud, the tourist area, since it would likely be crowded. Monday we had a perfect chance to go, it was an American holiday, but the Italians were working so we headed up ther. It was pretty much empty where we parked and were we sledded. The first place was great, it was only about 150 feet long, and you walked up the hill before yo sled, so when you got to the bottom, you were where you started, so you never had to walk back up a hill when you were done. They had a couple “tracks” where many many many people had sled down and created almost like a bobsled track, but it was all straight. One had a huge ramp at the bottom, but also a big hole, both the boys tried to go down it, and both of them didn’t like the bottom. Cutter actually got hit it backwards and knocked the wind out of him. Another American stopped by and told us the insane fast hill was around the bend, so we had to go check it out. I have to say it was insane. It was the side of the mountain, no grooming here, just raw, unadulterated snow as long as you could see, probably a drop of 300 feet in altitude across a half mile run or so. It was fast, I mean holy crap fast, it probably would have been much more enjoyable if they had some kind of pulley system or something to get back up the hill, and if it wasn’t ontop of lava rock. Hiking back up the mountain in the snow, carrying sleds, and a kid..not fun. It was also a bit tough to always be on the look out for the thin snow spots, where the lava rock showed through. Now they aren’t giant lava rock, but the small ones like you’d see in your gas grill or something. I’m happy to report we didn’t lose any skin, or even tear our clothes, Cutter and Luke sucessfully destroyed someones snow man and Piper doesn’t really like the snow yet, and when she’s rolling down a snowhill, she didn’t listen when I told her to spread her arms and legs out.
All and all we had a great time and can’t wait to go again, maybe this time with some friends.

-Casey

Comments

One Response to “Sledding on Etna”

  1. Dad on March 3rd, 2008 10:06 pm

    Looks like a blast!

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