
Winter at Dartmouth: Out of This World
A few weekends ago, Dartmouth’s campus was embroiled in cold war. No, it had nothing to do with Putin, nothing to do with Russia; nothing, in fact, to do with diplomacy (that is, unless you count negotiating due dates). Put aside all thoughts of Stalin and spy planes and focus instead on Darth Vader and lightsabers: Dartmouth’s 2018 Winter Carnival, “Snow Wars,” ruled the day. Skiing, skating, and sledding; ice sculptures, snow sculptures, and hot chocolate: think of what you’d expect from winter in the White Mountains, and Winter Carnival puts it front and center. But then think of polar plunges, human dog-sled races, and—if you can believe it—a beach party that’s been going every year since 1976. From morning to, well, early the next morning, Winter Carnival is a non-stop celebration of everything winter has to offer.
Unfortunately, this year I wasn’t here for it. I had to bear parks whose only “snow” was snowdrops—tiny white flowers in fields of green—as I ran, lost in wintery nostalgia, as sun shone, bright and warm, on my face… Just kidding. I’m in England. It was cloudy. But the fact remains: Winter Carnival (then themed “Dartmouth School of Icecraft and Blizzardry,” aka Harry Potter) was my favorite “Big Weekend” of my first year. Both day and night, the escapades were a fantastic break from everyday routine — and forged two (or more!) of my closest friends from my first year. From crafts and cocoa to dog-sledding and dance parties, Winter Carnival — whether themed for Harry Potter, Star Wars, or anything else — is a perfect example of how Dartmouth embraces what nature throws at us.