Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Jr. Regional Freeski Competition

Posted February 12, 2024 at 9:57 am

Today on the Madonna Liftline from Catwalk down to the Robin’s Run work road. The competition starts at 11 am. The best place to watch the action is from the Madonna I Lift. Skiers and snowboarders ages 12 to 18 years old will be taking on the infamous Madonna Liftline.

Today, we have top-to-bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 35 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 33 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Howie’s Wanderer, for a total of 130 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and loose granular with average base depths of 10 to 34 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 4 jumps and 4 rails. Currently, it is cloudy and 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling, with winds of 1 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a high of 31 degrees at the base and 24 degrees at higher elevations.

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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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Powder Day

Posted January 27, 2020 at 5:31 pm

**Brad finds some nice snow in the trees on Sterling**

**Olivia skiing Robin’s Run for her first time**

The 8 inches of snow that we received in the past 2 days has made all the difference. Our trail count went from 48 on Saturday to 68 today. Our Ski Patrollers have been busy dropping ropes. The new snow was heavy and stuck to everything. The conditions are fantastic and going to get even better. Tonight’s forecast is calling for more snow with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible. We have some colder air coming in this week and we plan to resume snowmaking tomorrow night. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of a snow shower early and a high of 28 degrees. 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 plan to have 68 trails open tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 28 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Waterfall, Wanderer, and Black Snake for a grand total of 121 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

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More open terrain

Posted January 6, 2020 at 11:45 am

Upper Madonna Liftline is open from the top down to Robin’s Run work road, the Black Hole is open from Upper Madonna Liftline, and Lower Drifter is open. We now have 45 trails open with terrain for all ability levels.

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Winter Wonderland

Posted January 1, 2020 at 5:14 pm

**Mike Timbers having fun on Upper FIS**

We received 3 to 5 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 13 inches in the past 3 days. The new snow allowed us to open some natural snow trails like Robin’s Run, Black Hole, Freefall from the traverse, Upper Madonna Liftline from the top down to Catwalk, Thomke’s Express, and Black Bear. I skied Upper Madonna Liftline and Freefall this morning. They were both fantastic! These trails saw a good bit of traffic today and some closed before the end of the day. The snow in the forecast tonight might allow us to reopen some of these tomorrow. We are presently making snow on Upper FIS and we plan to continue through the night. 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 37 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 12 to 48 inches. 21 out of the 37 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 92 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a slight chance of a snow shower and a high of 35 degrees.

Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Tasting tomorrow at the Village Pizzeria from 5 pm till 8 pm. Smugglers’ Notch Distillery® provides spirits worthy of the cause. Using the finest ingredients blended with pristine Vermont spring water, they make, barrel age, blend, and hand-bottle remarkably distinctive, award-winning spirits one small batch at a time. Stop by the Village Pizzeria for tastings and sales promoting cocktails that are or can be made at Bootleggers’ Lounge.

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Bluebirds and Robin’s

Posted March 26, 2019 at 11:47 am

Double-back to the Double Black!!

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. A sunny, late March day with tons of snow on the slopes and Patrol dropped the rope on Robin’s Run! We are 100% open!! On Madonna Mountain, Freefall is accessible from the Upper FIS traverse, and Upper Liftline can be reached by the Freefall traverse.

Upper FIS with Lake Champlain in the distance (at the top of the picture), and the author’s shadow in the foreground.

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Another beautiful day

Posted March 7, 2019 at 1:41 pm

Summit of Madonna

Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Madonna Liftline is open from Catwalk down to the Robin’s Run work road. The Black Hole is open from Madonna Liftline or Freefall. Great conditions!

Cruising through Lower Doc Dempsey’s Glades

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It’s snowing again

Posted February 18, 2019 at 7:34 am

New Snow

We received an inch of snow this morning and 22 inches in the past 6 days.

Lifts and Trails

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. The only closed trail is Robin’s Run. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 44 trails have been groomed for today, that’s a grand total of 155 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is snowing and 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for snow 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible with temperatures between 11 and 18 degrees.

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Birch Run Terrain Park

Posted February 17, 2019 at 5:13 pm

I was hanging out in Birch Run Terrain Park this afternoon taking some photos, getting shots of people coming off the jump above the first set of rails. I was having fun watching all the different tricks that the skiers and riders were pulling off. Then this snowboarder did this crazy spin, which looked off axis and landed clean. I ran into him at the top of the Sterling T-Bar where he was getting ready to head back to Birch Run Terrain Park. I asked him about the trick that he had just done. He told me is was a 540 Rodeo off his toe edge. Check out his body position at take off!

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. Lifts will operate on their weekend scheduled time this holiday week. We have 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. The only closed trail is Robin’s Run. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 44 trails tonight, including Jolly Rodger, Snow Snake, and Playground for a grand total of 155 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

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 light snow 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with temperatures between 11 and 18 degrees.

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99 percent open

Posted February 14, 2019 at 5:16 pm

Pete from the Smuggs Nordic Center out having fun on Madonna Mountain

Today was pretty amazing with the fresh snow and sunshine. This morning we had 74 trails open and the only closed trails were our double and triple black diamond. Ski Patrol did some trail checking and then the ropes dropped. We were 100 percent open today. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Upper Madonna Liftline is open from Catwalk down to the Robin’s Run work road. Robin’s Run and the Black Hole are both open. It was a fantastic day filled with powder turns and smiles. I look forward to doing it all over again tomorrow!

New Snow

We received 3 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 15 inches in the past 2 days, and 288 inches this season so far!

Ian from the Village Lift rockin’ the goggles and plaid.

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow 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 77 out of 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. 36 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s a grand total of 144 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Snowmaking

Waterfall will be closed on Friday due to snowmaking.

Great conditions

Weather

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 snow showers with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible and temperatures between 24 to 38 degrees.

Harvey Wesson Local’s Race

Tomorrow’s race is a single run super G.