Kansans work hard to debunk the idea that our state is flat. Outsiders like to make fun of Kansas, complaining about the endless seas of grasslands without trees or mountains to break up the view. A Kansan will sputter and argue, usually pointing out the truly beautiful, gently rolling Flint Hills. Even in Wichita, people point out that the College Hill area is “hilly” compared to the rest of the city.

Yet, let the snow fall and we all fold on the issue. Admit it, it’s just too flat here for good sledding. Does that stop the people of Wichita? Of course not. Ingenuity combined with a certain ability to disregard rules and carefree attitude about life and limb mean that anyone can find somewhere to go sledding.

First, you have to get a sled. Traditional sleds with metal runners on them aren’t very useful unless you have packed snow or a sturdy layer of ice. They can be hard to find and also expensive. More popular are the disc sleds, which resemble an oversized trash can lid flipped upside down. There are also flat sleds made of semi-flexible plastic that are rectangular like traditional sleds, and these are great for piling two (or more) kids on. All that aside, anything can be a sled. People I talked to spoke of using the lids off large Rubbermaid containers as sleds, a few mentioned going sledding using inner tubes as if they were at the lake, and personally I can remember stealing vinyl coated tablecloths from my grandmother’s cabinets to use one year. Only one year, however; her wrath made me rethink my options the next time around.

Once you have something that has a smooth and somewhat slick surface, you’re ready to go. So, where? If you drive down Kellogg, you’ll see kids and adults sledding down the embankments around the exits off the highway. Does that seem dangerous to you? Sure, and illegal, too. It has some pretty serious perks that you can’t deny, though. One, it’s a good steep surface. Two, it’s undisturbed snow: nobody has walked through it, or driven on it until the sledders get there. Three, sometimes dangerous is FUN.

Another really popular spot? The Big Ditch. Known formally as the Wichita-Sedgwick County Flood Control Diversion Canal, it has areas that are perfect for sledding. I asked about a dozen people, and they pretty much all said the best place to go was near the 25th Street area. Technically this is also illegal, so I can’t advocate trespassing there, but I can tell you from experience that there is good sledding to be had.

If you choose to sled in the Big Ditch, or if you decide to look for a steep spot outside city limits, be aware of fences. Barbed wire is hard to see if it’s under a drift of snow. As you might imagine, crashing into a barbed wire fence, or an electrified fence, would put a damper on your day. Also, be aware if you’re trespassing. The average farmer or property owner won’t mind if you want to sled because they have a steep spot on their land, but it’s always polite to ask if you can.

At least four people told me about being pulled along on their sleds by four-wheelers. I’m guessing this isn’t something that can be done in most parts of Wichita itself, but outside city limits. Then again, who says on a snow day that a four-wheeler pulling a sled down a residential road wouldn’t be a neighborhood hit? I’m thinking a budding entrepreneur could even charge for rides.

In the true spirit of sledding determination, I once saw a small boy tie a round sled to his Big Wheel with a jump rope. Peddling ferociously, he was pulling his younger sister down the sidewalk. As they went by me, all I could hear her say was “Wheeeeee!”

What’s your favorite sledding destination in Wichita?

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