Snow Business: Mount Southington is a Great Local Family Option

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The forecast last Sunday was for snow. I already had my bread, milk and canned goods, so there was just one thing to do — take advantage of, no panic over, the local weather and head to Mount Southington.

O ... M ... G ... We went out in the snow. And guess what? The trip was stellar.

It was a major expedition involving the three daughters — the 11-year-old who has been skiing trees and blacks with me for three seasons, the two 7-year-olds who were on their fourth time out and two of my oldest's friends and their mom.

Now is Mount Southington big? No. Are their any high-speed heated bubble chairs? No. What their is tucked away in the Plantsville section of Southington is a well-run hill close by that make it a really good option on a day like last Sunday.

The twins decided to take a warm-up run by sneaking onto the magic carpet at the learning area to take a couple of warm-up runs while they waited for the lessons to begin. They made it up and down by themselves, which hinted on it being a good day.

They were teamed up in a group of about seven with Joelle a Southington High School student who has great personality, a whole bunch of patience and a good teaching skill set for the younger crowd. The great thing about Southington is that the parents and more skilled skiers and riders can get their summit runs in while still checking on those taking lessons.

It started to snow hard as the morning progressed and conditions were improving rapidly. After taking one of those summit runs and circling back to the bunny hill, the 11-year-old and me heard the voice.

"We're going on the lift!"

My oldest made her first chairlift rise on her third time out and now the twins were ready to go on their fourth times out. Joelle, in like an hour, prepared them for it. Two runs later, she motioned for to join them on the summit lift for a run down Dom's Way, a green trail that circles around the downhill right side of the mountain.

The group spent the resit of the day on summit runs.

Meanwhile, my oldest's friends and their mom, were doing their pizza stops in their own by the end of the lesson. The snow sports school always has a very good student-to-instructor ratio and the coziness of the mountain makes for more runs.

A race was also taking place that day featuring regional competitors.

The conditions were fabulous. Not only were all 14 trails open, but base depths were averaging 3 feet. The snow felt good underfoot before the snow and everything was perfect during and after.

The 2016-17 season is shaping up to be a good one at Mount Southington, so head over, snowstorm or not, day or night. Check out the mountain's website here.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

Chris Dehnel is a Patch editor who has been writing about snow sports since 1999. His Snow Business Column appears regularly during the season.