Photo by Deb Gau The Garvin Park sledding hill was busy, both with people climbing the slope, and sledders gliding back down. The sledding party was part of celebrations of Lyon County’s 150th anniversary this year.

GARVIN —  The steep hillside was covered in just the right kind of slippery snow to send an inner tube or sled flying. But in order to enjoy the ride, first you had to make the long climb up the slope.

“We’re finally at the top!” Avery Midtaune said, as she and Jayda Bednarek stopped to catch their breath.

“I’ve been walking for so long,” Wyatt Boom said.

Long climb or no, plenty of kids and families were making the trip to the former tubing hill at Garvin Park on Saturday afternoon where a sledding party was being held. Area residents could have fun in the snow, or take a break and enjoy a warming fire and refreshments.

Saturday’s event was organized by the Friends of Garvin Park, as a way to help celebrate a milestone year for Lyon County.

The county celebrates its sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary, in 2020. While there are different commemorative events planned this year, “We thought we should have a sledding party as a kickoff,” said Dealyn Rose.

Rose, the Garvin Park campground host, and Terri Downing run the Friends of Garvin Park Facebook page. The Friends have hosted different events at the Garvin Park lodge, Rose said. But the idea of a sledding party would also bring together a couple of the park’s popular winter features. The lodge offered visitors a place to drink hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire.

“We brought lots of games and cards,” which will also be available when people rent out the lodge, Downing said. And while the county no longer operates the tubing hill, it’s still popular with sledders.

“There’s always people on the hill,” Downing said.

Together with the Friends of Garvin Park, Lyon County residents and organizations helped turn an afternoon of sledding into a party. Residents with snowmobiles offered sledders rides back up the hill, following a path away from the sledding area. The Lyon County Historical Society donated cocoa and other supplies, Rose said. The First Lutheran Church outreach committee and the Modern Woodmen helped serve popcorn and hot cocoa.

The turnout for the sledding party looked good as things got underway Saturday. More than 30 people were climbing the hill right around noon, carrying their sleds and inner tubes with them.

The weather Saturday was sunny and mild for February, but organizers said they weren’t worried about the snow melting away before the party. The snow cover on the hillside, thick after winter storms earlier this month, was pretty well packed down and slick.

“We had that good snow, and the more everyone slides on it, the harder it gets,” Rose said.