The Herndon Climb Returns!

Thank God! The new Commandant of the US Naval Academy has decided to allow the annual Herndon Climb to once again go occur.  For those who don't know, the Herndon Climb is a fabulous tradition in which upper classman grease up the Herndon obelisk with lard and place a midshipmen's hat at the top.  The plebes (freshmen) then have to use teamwork to climb the obelisk and get the hat.  This marks their transition from plebes to midshipmen.  It also means that all those tight, muscular bodies get greased up and intertwined as they strain and struggle to climb a large, greased granite monument!  Almost makes you wish you'd gone to the Naval Academy.  Back in 2008 the previous Commandant had decided to ban the climb because he thought it was too dangerous.  Get real, these are future Naval & Marine officers who we are sending off to war to fight and die for their country.  If climbing a granite obelisk covered in pig fat is too dangerous for them then maybe they should reconsider their chosen career path.  Thankfully the new Commandant has a firmer grip on reality and possibly a better appreciation for the site of young muscular bodies?  Enjoy these pictures of the 2011 Herndon Climb!