Snow days are the best days. Just ask the mass of jubilant schoolchildren who headed to Techny Prairie Park & Fields in Northbrook on February 9 after an overnight snow storm forced Chicago area schools to close for the day.
By noon on Friday, Techny Sledding Hill was teeming with young thrill seekers.
And while the roughly 10 inches of fresh powder deposited on the North Shore may have wrecked havoc on early morning commutes, all those making their way down Techny Hill agreed snow conditions were perfect.
“This is by far the best sledding hill around,” said Wheeling resident Kathy Fielding, who brought her children to Northbrook to meet local friends. “It’s steep and long and it’s got a great path to walk up, although I forgot how much cardio is involved in walking through snow.”
From left, Olivia Kowalczyk, 9, and Sam Fielding, 9, of Field School, Wheeling, at the Techny sledding hill in Northbrook during a snow day off from school on February 9, 2018. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIBBY ELLIOTT
From left, Thomas Henricksen, 9, and Noah Saichek of Greenbrier School, Northbrook.
The popular Techny Sledding Hill measures 28 feet in height, and it features a warming house, stairs and lights for evening use.
Wearing full ski gear and riding sleds of all shapes and sizes, including toboggans, disks and inflatables, a hearty crew of 6th graders from Northbrook Middle School were enjoying time off from school and a break from their screens.
“I was in the middle of my homework last night when I found out school was cancelled,” said Maya Abrams. “As soon as I heard, I stopped.”
Abrams and her friends Sarah Denk and Ellie Footlik immediately made plans to gather friends and meet at Techny Hill to celebrate the rare snow day.
“This is definitely the best place to sled around here,” said Denk. “There aren’t a lot of hills in Northbrook.”
Northbrook resident, Judi Saichek, brought her son, Noah, and his friend, Thomas Henricksen – both 4th graders at Greenbrier School – out to sled after the pair spent the morning outside building a snow fort.
The boys spend most of their free time competing on Northbrook’s Blue Hawks hockey team.
“When they’re not in the snow, they’re on the ice,” said Saichek.
Sunset Ridge School 5th graders, Chloe Jiroux, Claire Lestina, and Alyssa Winer – all of Northfield – were enjoying a romp in the snow before heading to Lestina’s house for hot chocolate. Bright eyed and rosy-cheeked, the trio had been pushing and pulling each other up the sledding hill for the better part of an hour, but were still going strong.
“We don’t get that many snow days around here,” said Winer. “It’s been a few years, which makes today even more special.”
Northbrook Middle School 6th graders.
From left, Alyssa Winer, 10, Chloe Jiroux, 11, Claire Lestina (seated),10, of Sunset Ridge School,Northfield.