All of a sudden, it feels like the foot of a giant has stepped on my upper body and is trying to fold me in half. That's what it must feel like to be paralyzed, because it literally is impossible to move anything above the waist. Just as suddenly, I'm released, and I remember that we're supposed to brace for the next turn. This happens repeatedly -- 15 times, in fact. Between turns it's possible for mere seconds to reorient my line of vision to glimpse the back of Phillips' head and blurs of white along the sides.

In 78.7 seconds -- about the time it took you to read the past four paragraphs -- our ride was over.

Apparently, it's also the amount of time it takes for one's body to be completely overcome by a weird combination of adrenaline and G-forces that makes you act like you're drunk.

Phillips hopped out and looked immediately ready to run a victory lap around the park -- our team had won -- while the rest of us stood up and then wavered, all woozy as though we'd been doing shots for an hour. The Comet is used to that -- they have a whole slew of folks standing by to help each newbie out of the sled, remove helmets and clean up to take a team photo (which I now display proudly on my refrigerator, by the way).

A little while later, as I drove away in a rental car that at normal braking comes in at less than 1 G- force, gingerly touching several bruises, I decided that I feel about bobsledding the way Gloria Steinem once said she feels about writing: I don't like doing it as much as I really like having done it. Not to mention that the bucket list is getting a little shorter.

VISITING PARK CITY

GETTING AROUND: To get from Salt Lake to Park City, you can rent a car at the airport, with the cars parked across from the terminal buildings on the ground floor of the parking garages. There are multiple shuttle and van services, with the cost depending upon the number of people (about $30-$50 per person each way), as well as private cars and vans starting at $110 for the vehicle (try www.parkcityshuttle.com or www.parkcitytransportation.com). Also check the Park City Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau at www.parkcityinfo.com for more options.

It takes 30 to 45 minutes to drive to Park City. Head out of the airport going east on Interstate 80. Merge onto Interstate 15 South/Interstate 80 East. Exit I-80 at the Kimball Junction/Park City Exit 145 and bear right, heading southbound on Utah 224, until you come into Park City, where it turns into Park Avenue.

Park City could not make it easier to get from point A to point B, including all three ski areas, as well as from lodgings to restaurants and shops. The town's free, biodiesel-fueled bus system runs daily from 6:10 a.m. to 2:10 a.m. during the winter, and the Main Street Trolley goes up and down Main Street and stops at the Old Town Transit Center so you can connect to the bus. Download a map of the whole system at parkcity.org/citydepartments/transportation/index.html. In addition, most of the major lodgings have their own shuttles.

STAY: Chateau Aprhs Lodge (1299 Norfolk Ave., 800-357-3556, www.chateauapres.com) sits in the heart of Park City and is hard to beat for the bargain. The no-frills rooms (think ''That '70s Show'') are sparse but comfortable, and include a private bathroom, TV, phone and WiFi, as well as continental breakfast. If you really want a deal, do the dorm thing for $38 a person. Winter rates start at $105 per night.

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