For some, DC snow day means sledding on Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill open for sledding after weekend storm

As John Thomas described his experience sledding in front of the Capitol on Monday afternoon, he paused to examine what was happening next to him.

鈥淚t is super, duper, duper bumpy,鈥� Thomas said.

But then, kids in what appeared to be a dinosaur-themed inflatable tube made their way next to him, almost stopping by his side.

鈥淥K, yeah, that鈥檚 different,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super bumpy. All of those edges, super bumpy.鈥�

Thomas was part of the small crowd that gathered near the U.S. Capitol. With schools closed and snow remaining on the ground, the group used the elements as an excuse to get out of the house.

鈥淭here’s the Capitol, and this hill is so big, and it’s nice and gradual, and everyone comes together and goes sledding,鈥� Anne Thomas, John鈥檚 mom, said. 鈥淚t doesn’t matter what party you are in. Everyone forgets about that stuff and has a good time. It’s a lot of fun.鈥�

Sarah Fee, meanwhile, went down the hill wearing a University of Oregon winter hat. That鈥檚 where she鈥檒l be attending college, so Monday鈥檚 session, she thought, might be her last chance to sled in D.C. for a while.

鈥淚 remember growing up, people would give each other sleds, like strangers they didn鈥檛 even know,鈥� Fee said. 鈥淛ust a nice community on the Hill.鈥�

Henry Faranda-Harris said he enjoys sledding as a bonding activity with his brother and dad. It happens only once or twice a year, he said, and Monday鈥檚 session was painful at times.

鈥淭he landings, whenever your sled does a jump, it鈥檚 just really, really hard on the old bum, I suppose,鈥� he said.

His brother, Emmett, described the experience as 鈥渟lippery and fun, but it can also hurt a little because it鈥檚 really hard and rugged.鈥�

Tony Canavan appreciated that the area near the Capitol remained open.

鈥淚t鈥檚 sometimes called the nation鈥檚 backyard, and as someone who lives nearby, I really like how we can make use of this space as our own,鈥� Canavan said.