Llano turns into sledder’s paradise on Snow Day

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

LLANO — Growing up on the western edge of Michigan, when December rolled around, my thoughts turned to one thing (well, actually quite a few things since Christmas was so close, but for this story I’m sticking with one thing: sledding.

Blessed with an abundance of lake-effect snow (thank you, Lake Michigan), my brother, friends and I pulled out our sleds with the first few inches of snow on the ground and headed for the nearby hills. One of the big topics of the season revolved around the latest and greatest sleds. For some, this was an argument as important as why the Green Bay Packers were better than the Detroit Lions (this was the late 1970s.)

The best place to prove the worthiness of a sled, however, wasn’t over the breakfast table but on the hill.

And that’s just what we did.

The best sled I had was a short-bodied, orange one with a slightly curved-up nose and handles on both sides. It was plastic, which made it light enough to hold as I took a running start to build up the most speed on the run. It was made to lie chest down on, head at the front slightly up so you could see impending structures and feet behind you just over the surface of the snow. You could rock a little bit to change directions, but a sharp cornering craft this was not.

Compared to the old wooden runner sleds, and even some of the larger toboggans, this was a flyer.

One of our favorite hills careened through a nearby woods. During the other months of the year when the ground was bare of snow, you wouldn’t dare consider this a sledding hill with all the knobby trees and sawed-off stumps. But a foot or more of snow hid the dangers just lurking underneath. Even without hitting a stump, you had to pick a line that allowed for the most speed without careening into a tree.

This worked. Sometimes.

I blame a outright vicious collision between my brother and a tree for his current state of mind even today.

As a father of two boys now myself, I wish they could experience the joy of racing down a hill, powered only by gravity and the running start at the top. But with snow somewhat more miraculous than seasonal here in Texas, I can only wish.

Except for one day of the year.

You see, some incredibly gifted thinkers in Llano came up with the idea of holding a Snow Day along the Llano River in Badu Park once a year. They truck in man-made snow (or it’s made on the spot) and create a sledding hill.

This year, the annual Llano Snow Day is Dec. 13 from 1-9 p.m. in Badu Park, 300 Legion Drive. The park is located on the north side of the Llano River just west of Texas 16.

Kids can get a wristband for $5, which is good all day (and you can come and go.) Along with getting access to the hill, the wristband allows you the use of a sled. And those provided sleds are the only ones used on the hill.

If kids get a little overdone with the sledding or just need a break, they can enjoy making snowmen, snow forts and other snowy activities in a spot nearby set up just for that.

And while sledding at any time guarantees fun and laughter, if kids and families hang out until 6 p.m., they can enjoy racing down the hill with the Starry, Starry Nights Lights shining in the background.

Santa Claus will even be at the light display from 6-8 p.m.

I never saw Santa on the hills we sledded as a youth, but after a few run-ins with trees and other sledders, I do recall seeing a few stars.

While Llano might not rival the lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan or the Rocky Mountain base, for eight hours on Dec. 13, it’s a Highland Lakes sledding paradise.

Call (325) 247-5354 for more information.

daniel@thepicayune.com