A lard-covered obelisk is more than a slippery slope for U.S. Naval Academy plebes, who view it as a rite of passage that changes them into midshipmen.

The annual tradition at the U.S. Naval Academy mark their official transition from first-year plebes to upperclassmen.

The Herndon Climb, an annual tradition for plebes at the U.S. Naval Academy, is complete, marking a major milestone for the Class of 2028.