Climbing the greasy pole – the bizarre annual US Naval Academy tradition

Several hundred US Naval Academy freshmen have formed a human pyramid to slip and slide their way to the top of a greased-up 6.5m-high obelisk.

The annual tradition is a rite of passage for 'plebes' at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, to officially mark the end of their first year and graduation to Midshipmen 4th Class. 

To complete the greasy challenge, they must replace a 'dixie cup' cap perched on the top of the Herndon Monument, with an upperclassman's hat.

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According to tradition, the midshipman who gets the hat on top will become the first admiral in the class.

Beginning in the 1950s, Upperclassmen apparently thought that challenge was too easy, so began the practice of slathering the monument in around 23kgs of vegetable shortening to make the challenge more difficult.

This year it took the freshmen 2 hours 31 mins and 41 seconds to replace the cap.