A sledding experience I will not soon forget

     I have gone sledding since I was a tot, but no sledding experience can compare to that which I had with Kristi, Tommie, and Sami Knutson. We had gone to Tommie’s house for a sleepover, and the following morning we decided to go sledding. The hill we chose was steep and lined with scrawny aspen trees. We hiked halfway up the hill (about 150 yards) and began taking turns departing with the sleds. Sami went first, by herself, and made it safely down the hill. Kristi, Tommie, and I went next in a giant black toboggan-like sled. As soon as we took off, we were automatically in tune to the fact that our ride would not end well. Our sled, ran at an uncontrollable speed straight for a tree. We were going to get hurt. But when it came time for impact, we somehow managed to miss the tree by a hair. At the bottom of the hill we sat, relieved that no one had gotten injured. Despite the trauma, Kristi and I somehow managed to work up the gumption to go one last time with the same black sled. This time we avoided the trees, but not the elusive jump at the bottom of the hill. Barreling towards the jump, we screamed knowing that what happened next could end poorly. We flew. More specifically, we flew vertically five feet and must have traveled 20 feet horizontally. Our landing ended in a crash, but no broken bones. Turning our heads, Kristi and I could clearly see Tommie and Sami at the top of the hill gasping, laughing, and squealing. Kristi and I, however, were shaken, but in awe of how far we had flown.
    This sledding experience was by far one of the most dangerous activities I have ever experienced, but it also proved to be one of the most exciting.