{ my $i = 60000; my %h = (new => {}); my $r = \%h; my $end = $r; # end of the list for (0..$i) { print $_, " "; $r = $r->{new}; $r->{new} = {}; $r->{new}->{old} = $r; # keep back-references $end = $r->{new}; } print "end 1\n"; while ($end) { # delete the list from the end delete $end->{new}; $end = delete $end->{old}; } } print "end 2\n";