Who can deny the inherent joy in barreling down a snow-covered hill at high speed? Not that artificial, groomed daily "tubing" you find at many ski resorts and sports parks in the area. I mean sledding: plastic or metal sled, local hill, no tow ropes, no rentals, snow in your boots, gloves and ears and hot chocolate for everyone afterwards. Sledding. When was the last time you went?

In an effort to rediscover the joys of bygone days, some friends (and a brother) of mine went out to hit up a few local spots we'd heard about. This is by no means a comprehensive review but will hopefully get you to head out on your own and remember what fun used to be.

My friend Joe and I went out on a day when the air was still thick with falling snow and a fresh inch or two of light powder had already accumulated. We'd heard weather reports that the snow was supposed to move into sleet and freezing rain later in the afternoon, so we knew we'd have to put the speediness on. We rate on a scale of one to five.

The Pines, Somersworth

The Pines is a town park in Somersworth, located at the top of the hill that most of Somersworth clings to. Being at the top of the hill, the whole park slopes off toward Rochester. There is a particularly nice section from the tennis courts down to the baseball fields. It's a gentle slope, about 30 degrees, smooth with no surprises for the most part. To the left of the snack bar, there's a pretty good jump that a friend of mine informs me is there year-round. Just make sure you sled to the left of the snack bar. Joe found out the hard way that if you go down the right side, toward the third base line, you'll have the displeasure of falling off a four foot cement embankment with "Hilltoppers" painted along its length.

Lesson One: Always scope out the terrain. Sledding should be fun and safe, and you always want to know what you're getting yourself into.

Rating: 2.5

Garrison Hill, Dover

Garrison Hill is the highest point in Dover and well known for its tower and scenic vistas. On a clear day, you can see the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth and the foothills up in Alton. What I was unaware of, though, was the sledding hill on the backside. You can either park at the top of the hill or at the bottom by Wentworth Douglass Hospital. In bygone years, this was a town ski area with a rope tow. Now it offers two sledding hills (beginner and advanced) and a snowboard terrain park, with jumps, tables and rails.

Joe and I tackled the advanced slope. It is fast. The snow had been packed down by high usage, and our sleds flew out of control as we held on. Luckily, the city has placed hay bales at the bottom of the hill to catch those who find themselves unable to stop. One man who had come to the hill with his children said to Joe, who had just arrived at the bottom of the hill, blasted in snow, "You have a bit of a death wish." Joe replied, "I prefer to think of it as a healthy disregard for personal well-being."

Lesson Two: Be courteous. Be aware of your fellow sledders and wait for the trail to clear up before you take your turn. You don't want any unfortunate run-ins. Rating: 4

Pile of Plowed Snow at an Undisclosed Parking Lot

Joe and I saw this pile of snow (Mount MikeandJoeAre-Awesome) as we drove by and heard its sweet siren song. We were wary at first, since most of the hill was made up of dirty snow and large chunks of ice and some rock. The South Face provided some clean cover, and we decided to try it out. Joe attempted to go down in a bucket. He fell. I found a longer sled worked better, since it smoothed out some of the bumpier parts. We then left before any security guards yelled at us.

Lesson Three: Don't sled in parking lots. That's just dumb.

Rating: 1.366

Hill behind St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Dover

This is where I used to sled when I first moved to Dover. It starts off gently from the school's second parking lot, then suddenly dips (a dip, not a drop-off), launching you down the last part. Try seeing who can get the farthest across the field on a single run. For the more adventurous, you can try starting from the snow piles at the top of the hill, but you may bottom out on the flats of the parking lots. I found Joe's slick-bottomed body board provided a particularly exciting ride, especially in the drop-knee position.

Lesson Four: Make sure you use a sled that fits your particular riding style. There's a wide variety of models, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Find one that's right for you.

Rating: 3.25

Hill Next to Dimond Library, University of New Hampshire, Durham

My younger brother Thomas and I did this hill three days after my original excursion. By this point, much of the snow had melted off, and what was left had a thick layer of hard ice across the top. We tried it anyway. It's a sharp hill. If you start at the top, behind the wall of the library parking lot, you'll get a long, fast ride right into a gulley, as long as you dodge the trees and any pedestrians who might be walking on the asphalt paths you have to jump. Pretty exciting. If you start farther over, right by the library, you have a clear ride, free of obstacles. But be careful, because the hill pulls to the left, right into a stairway and railing. This could be dangerous.

Lesson Five: Always check conditions. If the snow's too light, your sled will get bogged down. If it's too icy, you will lose control over direction and speed. This makes for boo-boos.

Rating: Ummm . . . 3ish?

Wagon Hill, Durham

There wasn't actually any snow on Wagon Hill when Tom and I went. So we didn't sled it. But I have seen it when there is snow, and it's always busy with the family crowd. The hill looks like a turtle's shell, and I bet it provides a smooth, fun ride. If you head down towards the right, there's a bit of a ridge that could make for some pretty sweet air.

Lesson Six: Sled when there's snow. It's just better that way.

Rating: 3.141592653589. . .