Apparently It's a Naval Academy Tradition to Climb Half Naked Up a Greased Up Pole

Here's something you probably didn't know: Every year, the United States Naval Academy has a tradition called "The Herndon Climb," and it's probably the most homoerotic thing you'll ever see happen out in the open.

According to the Washington Post, "hundreds of Naval Academy plebes work together to scale a 21-foot obelisk slicked with lard."

"It's an annual tradition," said The Post in a live stream of the event. "The first-year students can't begin their summer until they replace an underclassman’s 'dixie cup' hat at the top of the monument with an upperclassman’s hat."

In other words, a bunch of fit, half-naked men and women have to work together to climb up a greasy pole and place a hat on top. Casual, right? 

Although we have a hard time comprehending what's going on, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy watching it all happen, right?

Watch all the *gulp* action go down on the Washington Post Style sections' Facebook live stream below.