It was an annoyance as I had to jump off the trail into trees but I was not injured just annoyed. Of far greater interest is have there been any documented accidents where someone sliding down a hiking trail with or without a sled has caused someone else to be injured or killed? I know I have had near incidents twice on the Mt Tecumseh trail where skiers have been skiing down the hiking trail and have yelled at the last minute that I had to get out of the trail as they couldn't stop. Folks make similar decisions to go skiing and occasionally every year some folks ski off the trail and hit a tree and get seriously injured or die. His partners didn't run onto a tree and lived to deal with the aftermath. The individual on Wildcat made a questionable decision to go sledding and he paid the consequences. Like many other sports folks are willing and able to make personal decisions to do activities that are potentially fatal. My suggestion would be to reword the question "Out of curiosity, does anyone know of even a single accident involving a sled, where another person was injured by the sledder? If anyone wants to try it out shoot me a PM. A good beginner sled for those interested is the Starr King Trail (the hardwood section). Sledding the steeps on East Osceola wouldn't be on my list unless the snow was great, but the upper and lower stretches would be great. Plus, if it is a bright color, it could help with S&R. The sled can also be a multi use tool, as a seat on the snow and to help in case of a rescue. It's a skill that requires practice - I recommend people try it. ![]() It is actually a great workout to stay on the track and keep sledding, otherwise you stop almost instantly, and are forced to crawl out of deep snow. ![]() The idea of going so fast you have no control is laughable to me. Glissading seems to wipe snow away much more so than the sled, so I would argue the sled leaves the trail in better shape. I do the latter, and the sled I use has a flat bottom. I make a distinction between glissading and sledding. In which case it might still make the Accidents notes section but for a different reason than just mentioned. On most other trails, like Osceola I can't see how anyone could get up to that level of speed without colliding with a tree at the first turn. If the operator is out of control and slams into someone then it's a problem. On trails like Tuckerman Ravine the plastic sleds can pick up some considerable speed. Are you talking "sitting glissade" or actual plastic sled sliding on trails? I think the former is part of hiking. Then it might become something to regulate. It's a non-issue until it makes the Accidents notes in Appalachia. Come on, get over it people, we are all just goofing off in the outdoors, and yes, it comes with risks, but the rewards are worth it.:D ![]() Some have suggested that sledding should be considered negligent and worthy of costs for rescues, but think little of going up steep pitches of ice wearing crampons as if that is safe. Of course, a "serious" hiker will tell you it is different, they are hiking and bagging summits towards a list that is of major importance in their lives. Do we really need to be hiking in winter at all? Just being out there puts SAR in risk of having to go out and rescue someone in winter. As if someone slipping on steep sections and tumbling by accident is not even more dangerous with the person 100% out of control. People say it is not safe for others using the trails. It was just blamed for making boilerplate ice on the Osceolas after the last thaw. I been getting some public hate and attempts at shaming for sledding down the trails in the Whites. Why do some hikers consider what they do to be the only serious pursuit that should be done on trails? Is it not, in and of itself, just a mere act of goofing off.
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