Before we go any further, I’d like to expose the half-gallon challenge for what it realy is, a cheap marketing ploy. First off, I was clearly misinformed as to how it works. No, you don’t get refunded if you can eat the whole thing. You plunk down you $5.25 and you own that ice cream. If you happen to finish, you get a measly little wooden paddle/spoon (you know, the kind that come wrapped in a paper sleeve when you get one of those cheap ice cream cups) as a souvenir.

Knowing this, and being a little disappointed upon my arrival, i decided to give it a shot anyway. It so happened that they had only one half-gallon left of, my personal choice, chocolate. Money was exchanged, and i then stepped out on the porch, dug out my titanium spork, and went to work.

At about twenty minutes in, i started hitting a wall. I had a softball size chunk left when i decided it would be a wise idea to take a break. I could already feel rumblings deep in my belly. When i went back at it, i managed to whittle the chunk down to roughly the size of a baseball. It was then that i decided that, though i could probably shove the rest down, i just simply didnt have the desire to do so. I threw in the towel and threw out the ice cream.

The store’s marketing ploy is pretty genius, and seems to be working rather well. Not only do they sell the ice cream at five bucks a pop, but there is a conveniently-located, undoubtedly affiliated hostel right next store. After downing that much cream, one will surely opt to have convenient access to a flushing toilet for the evening. I’ve heard stories of hikers deciding to head out of town only to get a mile down the trail, turn around and decide to check into the hostel.

Business seems to be doing well, as the teenager manning the store ceerfully told me that they have sold over 40 half-gallons since last friday. Coincidentally, the Hershey’s ice cream man arrived to replenish their supply not but five minutes after i bought the last container. They’ve got a pretty good racket going.

As for me, i feel that, like your blood type, knowing whether or not you can consume that much ice cream in one sitting is one of those things you should know about yourself. I know that I’m clearly more of a pansy than those who have come before me and finished their purchases. But, honestly, i might’ve been a bit frightened had i finished. Then again, that’s probably just me trying to make myself feel better.