Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Today’s plan: 6 lifts operating – including Madonna I, and 75 trails open with terrain for all abilities. 34 trails have been groomed including Snow Snake, Thomke’s Express, and skiers’ right on Upper FIS. The forecast is increasing clouds and highs of 45 degrees at the base and top. If I were to tell you your destination… it would be here. Ski U soon.
The Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 4 jumps and 4 rails. 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 35 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 33 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Snow Snake, Dixie’s Knoll, Curley’s Cutback, Smugglers’ Alley, Thomke’s, Upper FIS, McPherson’s, and Chilcoot 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. Currently, it is cloudy and 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a high of 30 degrees at the base and 23 degrees at higher elevations.
We are making snow on Lower Morse Liftline and Snow Snake. These trails will be closed today. The way down the bottom half of Morse Mountain is the Magic Learning Trail and Howie’s Wanderer. Today, we have top-to-bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 59 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 28 trails have been groomed for today, including Log Jam, Smugglers’ Alley, and Upper FIS. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable, with average base depths of 12 to 36 inches. Currently, it is sunny and 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a high of 27 degrees at the base and 22 degrees at higher elevations.
I would like to give our mountain ops. props! Making snow near a lift can cause some issues. You want to make snow on the trail and not on the lift. The wind direction and intensity can change at any time. This can put the snow in places you may not want. Our lift maintenance, groomers, and snowmakers worked together to get Lower Madonna Liftline open for us yesterday! Thank you very much for all your efforts!
Rockin’ Ron for the Legendary Hugh Johnson. Last night and into this morning our trusty Snowmakers were busy on the Lower Morse Liftline and Snow Snake trails. Meanwhile, the ever-popular Grooming Crew was driving and tilling up and down 30 trails to bring us 123 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Hey Expert Skiers and Riders – both Upper FIS and Smugglers’ Alley were groomed! Time to hit the slopes.
We received 4 inches of wet snow on top today and some liquid sunshine at the base. Currently, it is 30 degrees at the summit of Sterling with wet snow falling. The temperature will be falling throughout the night with another 1 to 2 inches of new snow possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of a snow shower, a high of 23 degrees at the base, and 18 degrees at higher elevations. Tomorrow we plan to have 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 73 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 25 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Dixie’s Knoll, and Upper Chilcoot for a grand total of 102 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions will be machine-groomed and variable with average base depths of 8 to 30 inches.
We experienced many types of weather today with sleet, freezing rain, rain, windy conditions, and even partly sunny skies. I had a blast today on Snow Snake. It was groomed last night and was skiing great! The trail was nice and flat with soft creamy snow on top. Snow Snake has steeper pitches, multiple turns, and neat contours, which made it more challenging than some of the other Morse Mountain trails. This also makes it more fun. It was one of my favorites as a kid and I still love it today! 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 34 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Upper FIS, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 126 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 6 to 40 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 29 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 20 to 30 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of rain at the base, rain and snow at higher elevations. A high of 45 degrees at the base and 37 degrees at higher elevations for tomorrow with lighter winds than today.
Uphill Travel
All 3 mountains are presently closed to uphill travel at this time.
We received an inch of new snow last night and another 2 inches today. The new snow is making a big difference. I went snowboarding on Snow Snake first thing this morning and the one inch of new snow on top of the groomed snow was fun. The new snow groomed in with the existing snow will be nice for tomorrow. We have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating. We have 21 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 18 out of the 21 trails will be groomed for tomorrow including Howie’s Wanderer, Midway, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 76 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 6 to 32 inches. We are presently making snow on Black Snake, Snake Bite, Practice Slope, and Meadowlark. Currently, it is snowing and 7 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies and a high of 11 degrees. Bundle up and enjoy the nice conditions!
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Having been at the Smuggs for 24 years, I’m bound to run into people I know. After a run on Snow Snake, I skied to the Upper Mountains. While heading to MI, I exchanged Snow Report Intel with Duncan and Cathe from Patrol. Around noon, I stepped into the Black Bear for lunch. In walked local skier Dan L who informed me that he’s gotten over 90 days on the Smuggs slopes this season. Outside I spied Snow Sport Instructor (and past Spirit of the Mountain Award recipient) Princess Pam wearing a Hawaiin Lei, which made sense when I saw long-time Smuggs Guest Leila and her sister Ella arrive with their instructors Isaiah and Gillian. Then I met up with another long-time Smuggler, Fire Chief Ed, to take a run on Madonna Mtn. At the top of the lift, we greeted Patroler Arch shooting the breeze with Instructors Gary and Sherm. I dare you to name another Resort where you see that many people you know. Family + Friends = Smuggs FUN!
Legend has it that the snow snake is the nemesis of skiers and snowboarders around the world. Snow snakes are found on steep snow-covered slopes. The white color of the snow snake makes it very hard to see while skiing and riding. This is why the snow snake is often the cause of unexplained wipeouts. The next time you take fall for no reason, just blame it on a snow snake!
Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We plan to have 52 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are spring conditions and machine groomed with average base depths of 12 to 46 inches. We plan to groom 17 trails tonight, including Chilcoot, Treasure Run, and the Magic Learning Trail for grand total of 86 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is cloudy and 39 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a slight chance of an early shower then partly sunny skies with a high of 67 degrees.
Snow Sport University private lessons are available till Sunday, April 4th.
The last day for some lifts is expected to be Sunday, March 28, with Morse Highlands, Village, Madonna II, and the Sterling T-Bar closing for the season.
The Ice Skating Rink, Nordic, and Snowshoe Trails are now closed for the remainder of the season.
Currently, it is sunny and 24 degrees at the summit of Madonna with winds of 0 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high in the Village of 47 degrees and a high of 40 degrees in the higher elevations. Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 Lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 45 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are variable and machine groomed with base depths of 16 to 50 inches. 29 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 137 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
