Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Good morning

Posted February 17, 2021 at 7:58 am

This little light of Mine,
gonna make the snow pack fine.
This little light of mine,
gonna make the snow pack fine.
This Little Light of Mine,
Gonna make the snow pack fine.
Groom it at night then at the first light
Smuggs will SHINE!
Thanks Guys!

A poem from Long Island Rick

The Madonna I Lift will be on cold hold until 10:00 am. Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We have 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 36 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Dan’s Ford, Hibernator, Snow Snake, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 143 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is -4 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for sunny skies with a high of 17 degrees. Dress for success and enjoy the wonderful conditions!

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More open trails

Posted December 18, 2019 at 12:47 pm

Today Ski Patrol dropped the ropes on Upper Exhibition, Upper Treasure Run, Hangman’s, and Lower Pipeline. These are all natural snow trails and the new snow is fluffy. We now have now 20 trails open with terrain for all ability levels.

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Great spring conditions

Posted April 9, 2019 at 10:54 am

Treasure Run

Today we have the Sterling lift operating with 29 trails open for intermediates and experts. 14 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, Chute, Jolly Rodger, Thomke’s Express, Lower Pipeline, and Practice Slope for a grand total of 45 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches.

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Freshly groomed terrain

Posted April 9, 2019 at 6:57 am

Groomer headed up Meadowlark

Lifts and Trails

Today Sterling lift is operating and it will open at 9 am. We plan to have 30 trails open with terrain for intermediates and experts. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. 14 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, Chute, Jolly Rodger, Lower Pipeline, and Thomke’s Express for a grand total of 45 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We plan to have Sterling operating today through Friday, April 12th. This weekend we plan to have both Madonna I and Sterling lifts operating. We will close Monday, April 15th through Friday, April 19th. We plan to reopen for Saturday, April 20th and Sunday, April 21st.

Weather

Currently it is foggy and 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for a chance of rain, sleet, mix, and snow starting around 2 pm with temperatures between 28 and 42 degrees. There is snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow with a couple of inches of accumulation possible.

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Smugglers’ Alley

Posted February 24, 2019 at 5:20 pm

We received 2 to 3 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 15 inches in the past week. The new snow had a good bit of sleet in it and that made it dense. It skied more like 6 inches of new snow, because it could hold you up. The wind blew it around and it filled in the low spots. I had a great time today on the groomers and playing in the trees.

Lifts and Trails

Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. We plan to have 6 lifts operating with 77 trails open. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 33 trails tonight, including Upper Drifter, Wanderer, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 135 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling with sleet and winds of 15 to 30 mph. Tonight’s forecast is snow showers up to 4 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow showers another inch of accumulation possible with temperatures between 12 and 28 degrees.

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Beautiful day to be out on the slopes

Posted January 28, 2019 at 4:41 pm

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the summit of Madonna

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. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 38 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Hibernator, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 146 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Madonna summit with snow covered trees

New Snow

We received 10 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 21 inches in the past 4 days, and 248 inches this season so far.

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 0 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with snow developing late in the day and temperatures between 11 and 24 degrees.

A huge wave of snow

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The calm before the storm

Posted January 19, 2019 at 8:04 am

Lower Morse Liftline

Lifts and Trails

Today we plan to be 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 37 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Hibernator, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 145 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is -4 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies early with increasing clouds throughout the day and snow developing late. An inch of accumulation is possible with temperatures between -2 and +6 degrees. Tonight’s forecast is 4 to 8 inches of snow. Tomorrow’s forecast is another 12 to 16 inches of snow. Tomorrow’s night forecast is light snow with another 2 to 4 inches. We could see up to 29 inches of new snow by Monday!

New Snow

We received 2 inches of new snow overnight and 202 inches this season so far!

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200 inches of snowfall so far this season!

Posted January 18, 2019 at 5:18 pm

Josh Adams getting ready to blast through a gate in the Harvey Wesson Locals Race Series

We received 1 to 2 inches of new snow today, which brings us to the big 200 inches. The new snow really made a difference making everything a little bit softer. I had a blast this morning with Matt McCawley. We skied both Sterling and Madonna in search of the steep and deep. Luckily we were able to find an abundance of both! Speaking of deep there is a bunch of snow that is going to be arriving here at Smuggs Saturday night and into Sunday. If you are worried about traveling in the snow, you should arrive before the storm. You can then park your car and take a shuttle to where ever you need to go here at Smuggs. Even better you could just ski or ride from the Village to the Upper Mountains and back. You can dig your car out when it is time to leave.

GS training on the Practice Slope

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to 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 powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 37 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Sam’s Run, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 145 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is snowing and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow developing late in the afternoon, an inch of accumulation possible with temperatures between -2 and +6 degrees.

Matt takes flight on Upper Madonna Liftline

Events

Grass Sticks Demo Days

Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20 at the Madonna Sterling Base Lodge from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Beautifully handcrafted, high-performing, eco-friendly poles for the outdoor enthusiast. We have used the best bamboo in the world to take ski poles to the next level of performance, while improving durability and strength. All products are hand built with custom options by ski bums and river rats in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

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Great day on the slopes

Posted January 13, 2019 at 4:22 pm

Sun rays through the trees

It was absolutely gorgeous today with the bluebird skies. There were ice crystals that were floating in the air. The sun shining through the ice crystals made a sundog, which is seen in the top photo to the right. It also made some neat sun rays through the trees. Speaking of trees I had a blast skiing all the fresh snow that is in between them today!

Magical chair on the Sterling Lift

Lifts and Trails

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 77 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 33 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including McPherson’s, Curley’s Cutback, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 131 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches.

Pete having fun in the woods

Weather

Currently it is 12 degrees at the summit of Sterling with sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 14 and 25 degrees.

Snowmaking

Tonight we plan to make snow on skier’s right of Lower Madonna Liftline and Lower FIS. We plan to continue snowmaking on Lower FIS tomorrow and it will be closed.

Snow Reporter checking base depths

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New snow

Posted March 2, 2018 at 3:28 pm

Adding up pretty fast!

We received 3 inches of new snow today and 6 inches in the past 6 days. It was really snowing hard for a while this afternoon. The new snow is bounding well with the existing snow. This afternoon, Ski Patrol opened Lower Pipeline which also opened Upper Treasure Run. I was lucky enough to ski Upper Treasure Run and the new snow was fantastic. We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 44 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 36 trails will be groomed tonight, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Upper Treasure Run

Birch Run, Log Jam, Flowground, and Zone Terrain Parks are all open. We have many events this weekend like the Extreme Skiing Challenge this Saturday and Sunday.