Kinda sounds dirty.
I was bummed to read that Cook County is closing the Swallow Cliff toboggan slides. At least they’re preserving the winter rite of sledding, for what it’s worth.
Grandpa Doyle used to take us there when I was a wee lad. Billy, Kelly and me. We counted stairs on the way up and yelled all the way down. I recall the ole guy talking me into the first few runs. And the hot cocoa in the warming hut was pretty good, too.
Years later I’d mountain bike in the area. In summer you can’t imagine anyone going down those chutes – it’s all wood and concrete.
Thanks for the scoop, Bill.
What a bummer! Good times, good times.
Years after I also used to grace the place. My track coach would take us there once or twice a year pre-season and make us run the stairs. I can’t remember but there was something like 250 – 300. Even as a spry young lad a few times was more than enough. I can’t even imagine a mid 60′s man who was harboring lung cancer hauling a damn toboggan slide up those stairs countless times just to entertain his grandkids. Grandpa Doyle was a saint. I can only hope to be 1/10th of the man he was.
I do miss that man.
Peace Cuz. Tell the wife and kids I send my love.
Billy D