Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Faces and Places (but I missed the Races)

Posted March 21, 2023 at 2:41 pm

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. We are totally lovin’ having 100% of our trails open! Hangman’s Drop dropped off the open list in the morning, but re-opened later in the day, as did Freefall from the top. While taking a run through 3 Mountain Glades, with Seth “Carv-ison” from the Activities Department, I lost my phone. Luckily, with a revisit to a certain tree stump, I found it! By then it was time for lunch at the Black Bear Tavern – cheese fries with veggie chili! Apres food, traversing from Madonna to Sterling, I saw the famous, fur-hatted skier Steve and his buddy John on Drifter. We had a nice chat about local history. I wanted to get photos of the Women’s FIS Race on Black Snake, but one of the racers told me I was too late. Some other faces I saw belonged to Angie, Mike, George, Anne, Rachel, Oliver, Sherm, Molly, and Brandon.

Longtime Passholder, former liftie, and Smuggs fixture Steve and his friend John on Drifter. Face it, John, your hat is not as cool as Steve’s.

Seth coming out of Red Fox Glades onto Madonna Liftline.

Festively delivered advice on where to put your Season Pass or Lift Ticket.

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Great day on the slopes

Posted March 2, 2022 at 4:33 pm

We received 3 inches of new snow overnight, 7 inches in the past 2 days, and 27 inches in the past week. Ski Patrol dropped the ropes on Robin’s Run, Black Bear, Hangman’s Drop, Upper Pipeline, Shakedown, Upper Morse Liftline, and Bermuda. Tonight’s forecast is calling for another 2 to 4 inches of new snow. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including Madonna I and Morse Highlands. We have 75 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 33 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Chilcoot, Snake Bite, and Hibernator for a grand total of 125 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 16 to 50 inches. Birch Run and Knight’s Revenge Terrain Parks are open. Currently, it is partly sunny and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of snow early with an inch of accumulation possible with a high of 12 degrees at the base and 7 degrees at higher elevations. Temperatures will be falling throughout the day. Bundle up and enjoy the wonderful conditions!

Doc Dempsey’s, Upper FIS, Freefall, and Madonna Liftline seen from the Village Lift

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Dropping ropes

Posted March 9, 2020 at 10:49 am

**Ski Patroller Mac opening Hangman’s Drop**

We have 70 skiable trails and 60 lift accessible trails open today. The Madonna I lift is presently on wind hold. We have 6 lifts operating: Madonna II, Sterling, Morse Highlands, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, Village, and Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet. Surface conditions are spring conditions and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 56 inches. Currently it is sunny and 47 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Enjoy the sunshine and soft conditions!

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More new snow overnight

Posted December 6, 2019 at 9:00 am

**Ski Patroller Stitch cleaning off the deck of the Top of the Notch building**

**Ski Patroller Mac shoveling snow onto Hangman’s Drop**

We received 2 inches of new snow overnight and 7 inches in the past 36 hours! Today we have Sterling Lift and Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet operating. We have 23 trails open with terrain for all ability levels.

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Spring Fever

Posted April 3, 2019 at 4:32 pm

Matt enjoying the spring conditions

It didn’t take long for things to soften this morning. I had a blast on the steeper groomed runs like Bootlegger, Smugglers’ Alley, Chute, Hangman’s Drop, and Upper Pipeline. In fact all the groomed runs were good. The natural snow was also good on Black Bear, Full Nelson, Harvey’s Hideaway, and Upper Exhibition. I want to thank the Sterling Patrol for a wonderful lunch today, it was unexpected and appreciated.

Geoff is race day ready with his sporty jacket

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 62 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. We plan to groom 37 trails tonight, including Upper FIS, Drifter, Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, Midway, Smugglers’ Alley, and Black Snake for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Sterling Patrol Chillin’ & Grillin’ getting ready for the April 6th Tailgate Party

Weather

Currently it is snowing and 29 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 16 and 38 degrees.

Construction continues on the skimming pond

Patroller Mac with a fresh dog right off the grill

Skiing and riding isn’t just about skiing and riding. It’s also about hanging out with your good friends!

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370 inches of snow this season so far

Posted March 25, 2019 at 3:56 pm

Giant wave of snow crashes onto Smuggs

Today was gorgeous with the sunshine and fresh snow! The 1 to 2 inches of fluffy new snow that we received last night added nicely to the 23 inches of snow that we received in the past few days. There are some huge snow drifts. We are stock piling the snow so that we have a nice long season. The conditions are amazing with super deep base depths!

Lifts and Trails

We are 100 percent open! Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. I would like to thank Ski Patroller Ethan Costello for the trail maintenance work he did on the traverse. The snow is so deep, that it was hard to get under the branches on the traverse. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 60 inches. We plan to groom 40 trails tonight, including Drifter, Shuttle, Snow Snake, Curley’s Cutback, Hangman’s Drop, and Upper Pipeline for a grand total of 148 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Fresh tracks

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 10 and 28 degrees.

Notice the pole that is buried?

#smuggslove

Nice view

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156 acres of freshly groomed terrain

Posted March 2, 2019 at 7:56 am

Groomers headed back up Meadowlark after finishing Lower Morse Liftine

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 46 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, Hibernator, Bootlegger, Chute, Hangman’s Drop, and Smugglers’ Alley.

Weather

Currently it is 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly cloudy skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with a chance of light snow later in the day and temperatures between 22 and 30 degrees.

Events

Smugglers’ Notch Extreme Challenge is today on Madonna Liftline just below mid-station. This year for the first time snowboarders will be competing. There is 120 competitors signed up for the event! Spectators are welcome. You can watch from the edge of 3 Mountain Glades, just above the intersection of Madonna Liftine and Link, or the best seat in the house will be the Madonna I Lift as you ride right over all the action.

Free Family Fun Race Saturdays and Sundays on Lower Madonna Liftline from 11 am till 2 pm.

Black Bear Apres Sport Party this weekend draft specials featuring the Shed.

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Upper FIS is groomed

Posted February 21, 2019 at 8:58 am

Ski Patroller Mike Duncan trail checking Upper FIS

Lifts and Trails

We are 100 percent open! We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. All 78 trails are open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 43 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper Drifter, Hangman’s Drop, and Hibernator for a grand total of 156 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Upper FIS is groomed on skier’s right from Catwalk down to the Doc’s cutoff and from there down it is groomed full width.

New Snow

We received 2 to 3 inches of new snow overnight, 15 inches in the past week, and 303 inches this season so far!

Weather

Currently it is 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for a chance of mix early then becoming snow later an inch of accumulation possible with temperatures between 25 and 39 degrees.

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Snow storm this weekend

Posted January 18, 2019 at 7:47 am

The forecast from the National Weather Service

Today

Snow showers likely, mainly after 1 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 27. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight

A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11 pm Mostly cloudy, with a low around -2. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday

Snow likely, mainly after 5 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 12. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night

Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Areas of blowing snow after 8 pm. Low around 0. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

Sunday

Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Areas of blowing snow after 1 pm. High near 8. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.

Lifts and Trails

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 76 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 35 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Hibernator, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is snowing and 9 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Bootlegger, Thomke’s Express, Hangman’s Drop, Upper Pipeline, Chute, and the Zone.

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Great conditions

Posted April 12, 2018 at 4:18 pm

Matt finds a nice deep pocket of snow

The 2 inches of new snow last night really made a big difference, especially with the other 5 inches of snow that we received this week. The lighter snow was high on the mountain today. I ran into my good friend Matt McCawley this morning and we went looking for fresh tracks. Many of the lines that we found already had rabbit tracks. We skied in the woods skier’s right of Smugglers’ Alley and then came out on Shuttle. Shuttle was smooth with the all the new snow on top. Matt and I got up to speed and just floated in the powder. Tomorrow we plan to have the Sterling Lift operating with 25 trails open for intermediates and experts. 14 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Upper Pipeline, Hangman’s Drop, Chute, and Thomke’s Express for a grand total of 41 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly to mostly cloudy skies with a chance of a shower late in the day with temperatures between 34 and 47 degrees. We should have some great spring conditions tomorrow!

Ski Patroller Dave Sills enjoying the fresh snow

Matt takes flight