For the first time in my life, I actually want it to snow. I want a freak cold front to take the Upper Valley by storm and dump at least six inches of snow in the next six hours. Normally my Floridian bones can't take the cold. I'm the first person to complain if I have to salt and shovel a driveway, but I don't care if my desired nor'easter shuts down roads or makes walking around campus more difficult than my last Econ 20 exam. I just want it to snow I want this Winter Carnival to be a winter wonderland.
Winter Carnival is always the best weekend of the term. It's the shining light in the middle of an otherwise bleak, dreary and frigid winter season. It's the only time of the term when it's perfectly acceptable to be drunk before 11 a.m. I intend to make the most out of this year's carnival, so I've already planned out my whole weekend. For those of you who've never experienced a Winter Carnival, take notes. There's a lot out there to do and I don't want you to miss anything.
- Go watch the Dartmouth ski team.
For those of you who haven't realized this by now, the Dartmouth ski team is probably the largest collection of badasses on campus. Their swag is unparalleled on the slopes not many can compete with the talent every member brings to every event.
We have eight All-American skiers. We have eight skiers on the 2012 U.S. Alpine National Team. We have Nordie Sam Tarling '13, who won the 2011 NCAA freestyle title. The men and women of our alpine and cross-country ski team have won more collective accolades than our very own President Jim Yong Kim (Sorry JYK, I have to give credit where credit is due).
You have no excuse to completely forget about supporting our fellow classmates this weekend. There are buses that leave every hour from the Hop that will take you to the Skiway. There's even a tailgate on Saturday with free food and hats for all Dartmouth students. On Saturday morning, find your warmest jacket, stuff your backpack with Keystones and catch the 11 a.m. bus to go cheer on our skiers to victory.
- Do the Polar Bear Swim.
Even though there's no snow, there's ice. And where there is ice, there are (figurative) polar bears. Although I normally avoid the cold, I'll make an exception for this one. The Polar Bear Swim is a long-standing Dartmouth tradition that connects our class to generations of Dartmouth greats. I know the water will be cold (probably the coldest you will ever feel in your life), but it's only a quick few seconds before you're out and warming up with hot cocoa.
If you plan on making the swim, please wear a bathing suit. No one wants to see you naked. Period. If you want, you can just wear your underwear just remember that cameras are everywhere. My freshman year roommate learned this lesson the hard way when he discovered several pictures of him in his tighty-whities on Facebook. Plan on waiting in line so be sure to bring warm clothing that's easy to take off. Also, bring a towel. You would think that this is self-explanatory, but you'll be surprised by how many people forget this. Most importantly, have fun and bring friends. I'll see you at Occom Pond on Friday morning.
- Go skiing or snowboarding at the Skiway.
You can't go to Dartmouth for four years without going skiing at least once. Being a Dartmouth student who never once skied is like going to Rome and not seeing the Colosseum. You just don't let things like that happen. If you haven't been skiing yet, Friday of Winter Carnival is the perfect day. There are free shuttles that leave the Hop every hour, and you can buy a day pass at the Skiway for only 99 cents. You can't even get a McDouble at McDonald's for prices like this take advantage.
If you're hungover, just find a nice snow pile to lie down in. Trust me, you have no idea how good this feels.
- Go to the Stroll Show at Collis Common Ground on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
The Stroll Show is one of my favorite Dartmouth traditions. If you've never been, you've missed out on a great combination of culture, rhythm and dance. Go out on Saturday night and support all your friends in Ujima, Sheba, the Lambda Upsilon Lambdas, the Alphas and the Sigma Lambda Upsilons. Make sure you get there early because this show always packs the house.
