Hundreds of Naval Academy students scaled a moist lard obelisk, and the internet fell in love
Hundreds of Navy plebes had their chance on Monday to take part in the strangest, best tradition in America — and arguably the best sport you’ve never heard of: Scaling a moist lard obelisk to prove their worth.
Naval Academy plebes climb greased monumentHundreds of Naval Academy plebes work together to scale a 21-foot obelisk slicked with lard. It's an annual tradition: The first-year students can't begin their summer until they replace an underclassman’s “dixie cup” hat at the top of the monument with an upperclassman’s hat.
Posted by Washington Post Style on Monday, May 22, 2017
The Washington Post was in Annapolis, Md. to witness the plebes attempt to scale the Herndon Monument, a 21-foot granite obelisk that had been covered in shortening. The aim is for the class to work together to climb the statue, before replacing an underclassman’s hat with an upperclassman’s. This is the final test that signifies the start of the summer.
There were times that the task seemed impossible.
The class used their shirts to wipe as much lard off the obelisk as possible, but it was made increasingly difficult with the heat and water being sprayed on the plebes.
Things looked close at 27 minutes when the class finally developed a strategy, but ultimately it was for naught.
Finally after two hours and 21 minutes, they replaced the hat and the jubilation was palpable.
The 2017 attempt wasn’t nearly as fast as the 2016 class, who completed the task in just over an hour — while far exceeding the 1995 class, who took over four hours to scale it.
Bravo, naval plebes! You did it!