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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sledding benefits spirit, body of all ages

Ryan Bronson Correspondent

One grueling step at a time, 8-year-old Gunnar Moffitt strides his way back up Cherry Hill, his blue plastic sled in tow.

Sure, he could go all the way to the top again, but that’s a lot of work after a long day of sledding. So, three-quarters of the way, he stops and turns around, and after a natural pause, he fearlessly hops into his sled and takes off down the hill … swoosh!

Over the years, sledding has changed course a bit. Teenagers are Instagramming or Facebooking in between (and during) downhill runs. Parents hang out and watch rather than just dropping off the kids for a few hours. The neighborhood streets that were once blocked off after a good snow are now open for traffic, and some cities are placing restrictions on, or even banning, sledding.

What’s that? Ban sledding? Now that’s a call for government intervention.

Obviously, some things never change. Two, three, four siblings dog-piling onto the sled. Digging your fingers into the ice and snow to keep your toboggan true to course. Crashing uncontrollably into a mound of snow – or a bush, or a tree, or whatever. Mom’s hot chocolate waiting as you drag your wet, numb, zombie-like body back into the house.

Our memories are cherished even as they fade.

A post about Cherry Hill on the Old School Coeur d’Alene Facebook page solicited more than 100 comments, some of which were reminiscent of the good old days when the city blocked off Foster and Garden avenues east of 9th Street. Some talked about sledding at Chicken Hill, or at Farragut, or at Coeur d’Alene Golf Club.

In Spokane, Manito Park is a popular spot for thrill seekers, and many remember the steep hills at Indian Canyon Golf Course before sledding was banned at all Spokane courses in 2006.

Yes, young and old alike are nostalgic when it comes to their childhood sledding adventures, and by most accounts, Cherry Hill was a destination even before Charles Foster Kane uttered his mysterious last word … “Rosebud.”

“It’s awesome that it’s still here,” said Coeur d’Alene native Josh Wiltsie, 29, as he patiently waited for his kids to make their next run at Cherry Hill. “The first time I came here, I was probably 7 or 8. … There weren’t quite as many people then.”

As we grow older, the idea of sliding down a hill on a piece of plastic only to pick ourselves up off the ground and do it all over again becomes less and less appealing. But maybe there’s more to it than simply sharing time with our kids.

According to the 2015 Farmers’ Almanac, you can burn 450 calories per hour while sledding, most of it trudging back uphill for another whirl. At Cherry Hill, the average adult takes nearly 200 strides to reach the “summit.” It’s a workout.

And there’s more. While sledding, we soak up the sun, boosting our vitamin D levels and increasing our exposure to full-spectrum light, which the Farmers’ Almanac claims “can improve energy levels and promote feelings of well-being.”

Take that, cabin fever.

So what was it that persuaded the city council in Dubuque, Iowa, to ban sledding in 48 of its 50 parks earlier this month? According to reports, the move was because of a lack of state legislation protecting the city from personal injury lawsuits.

“There’s been no discussion about that in Coeur d’Alene,” said City Attorney Mike Gridley, who cited an Idaho state law that helps protect landowners who allow free use of their property for recreation. “We’re going to use ordinary care to try to make our facilities as safe as possible.”

That’s a good thing because, according to one study, about 20,000 children are injured in sledding accidents each year. These could be injuries from minor scrapes to broken bones, and potentially more serious injuries.

As for Gunnar Moffitt, he most likely doesn’t know the numbers, but he did count 145 steps to his launching pad on Cherry Hill.

“Mostly, I just try not to flip over,” he said. “Last time, I was sliding sideways and I flipped over, but it didn’t hurt.”