Mount Southington Battles Wacky Weather To Open For Holiday Week

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Despite spotty weather, Mount Southington has been open most of the holiday week and is ready for skiers and snowboarders on the long New Year's weekend.

"It's been a challenge, but we've managed to get open," Mount Southington general manager Jay Dougherty said, citing a few cold nights that let the snowmaking crews have at it.

The stats are not bad considering the weather, Dougherty said — six of the mountain's 14 trails are open with base depths of a foot to 18 inches and four lifts are running.

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Mount Southington is coming off a pandemic year that featured weird new rules like limited lodge access and face coverings. But it did well as a business, Dougherty said. For example, it sold out of season passed.

The offseason was anything but quiet, with several capital improvement projects.

Here's what was added for the winter:

• A new 2021 Prinoth Lietwolf X snow grooming machine has been acquired. Dougherty said it is the biggest and baddest groomer in the market.
• Major upgrades have been made to the Avalanche Double Chairlift, including new chairs and towers.
• New sidewalks have ben fashioned throughout the ski area.
• The mountain has added 10 new automated snow machines from Demac and Techno-Alpin.
• More than 4,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe is being installed.