Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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If you build it

Posted April 5, 2018 at 2:13 pm

digging out the pond

We are getting ready for the 8th Annual Pond Skimming! I stopped by the Zone Terrain Park this afternoon and the pond is really starting to take shape. Grooming Manager Arlo Pouliot and Director of Mountain Operations Mike McAdoo were shaping the pond. I am not sure what Mike or Arlo will make for the entrance to the pond. Will they make it smooth or will there be a jump? They might even make both; who knows. I do know that it will be very exciting, entertaining, and a ton of fun!

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and

Looking down from the top of the start ramp

riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 42 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 42 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 155 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow to develop in the afternoon with an inch of accumulation possible and temperatures between 24 and 33 degrees.

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Snowshoe tour

Posted April 2, 2018 at 2:43 pm

High elevation snowshoe trek

I was at the top of Mogul Mouse Magic Lift this afternoon when I came across a group of people snowshoeing. They were participating in one of the Smugglers’ Notch Snowshoe Adventures. The were headed to the Turkey Creek area and then to the Wire Road. These guided treks are a great way to learn more about the Vermont woods as well as master some more advanced snowshoe techniques It sure was a beautiful afternoon for a nice trek through the woods.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 60 trails with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Chilcoot, Black Snake, and Garden Path for a grand total of 101 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Tomorrow’s forecast is cloudy skies with a chance of snow in the afternoon and an inch of accumulation possible with a high of 39 degrees.

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Birch Run Terrain Park

Posted April 1, 2018 at 3:00 pm

Method grab

The weather felt more like winter than spring this morning with the cooler temperatures and an inch of new snow during the Easter Summit Sunrise Service. We had flurries through out the day with patches of partly sunny skies. It was a little breezy this morning but the winds lessened making for a wonderful afternoon. The groomers did another great job last night providing us with 150 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We have great conditions and coverage as we get ready for the last two weeks of the winter season.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 59 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 38 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including the skier’s right side of Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 136 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies early then mostly sunny skies later with a high of 35 degrees.

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Soft conditions

Posted March 30, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Lamoille Union Middle School 7th graders here at Smuggs as part of their Fitness Friday Program. Photo credit: Melissa Piscitelli

We received a dusting of new snow on top this morning. The spring conditions are just so much fun! I had a blast today with good friends Ken and Justin on Sterling Mountain. We enjoyed Hangman’s Drop, Upper Pipeline, Black Snake, Harveys’ Hideaway, Full Nelson, and the Practice Slope. I would have to say that Upper Pipeline was my favorite today. It was recently groomed and was skiing very well.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 57

Justin having fun on Upper Pipeline

trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 36 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Meadowlark for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies early then partly sunny skies in the afternoon with a high of 42 degrees.

Ken loving the great conditions

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Spring conditions

Posted March 29, 2018 at 2:12 pm

Upper FIS

It was another beautiful day here at Smuggs. The clouds were clinging to the summits of Madonna and Sterling, but everywhere else was partly sunny. The warm temperatures made for some great spring conditions. The soft moguls on Upper FIS were a blast! The skier’s right hand side had been groomed the night before last, so the bumps were smaller on that side. The skier’s left hand side is another story with nice good size moguls. A skier commented to me as they skied by, “I am so glad that they left Upper FIS bumped up!”

We are 100 percent open! Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts

Upper FIS with Mount Mansfield in the background

operating and all 78 trails open. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 20 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Chilcoot, Crossover, and Garden Path for a grand total of 87 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Bird’s eye view

Snow Sport University Ski Instructor enjoying the soft bumps on Upper FIS

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Morse Mountain

Posted March 28, 2018 at 2:49 pm

Snow Sport University Snowboard Lesson

I did a three mountain tour today while I enjoyed the soft spring conditions. We received a dusting of new snow last night. The natural snow softened before the manmade snow, but it all softened up. The groomed snow was very edgeable and fun to carve in. Upper Drifter was groomed last night and it was pretty sweet. The spring conditions will continue tomorrow with partly sunny skies early with increasing clouds and temperatures between 39 and 51 degrees. We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. 35 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

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Blue bird day

Posted March 26, 2018 at 1:57 pm

Sterling Pond with Mount Mansfield in the background

You could not ask for a nicer day, ok maybe tomorrow. Today was amazing with the beautiful sunny skies and the warmer spring air. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the views were fantastic. I want to thank our groomers for the wonderful job that they have been doing. Upper and Lower Drifter were very nice today. The natural snow trails are also in great shape. All of Madonna Liftline was open today. I skied it top to bottom and had a blast! When it comes to challenging trails, Madonna Liftline top to bottom, a.k.a. shack to shack, is right up there.

The wonderful weather continues tomorrow with sunny skies and temperatures between 35 and 47 degrees. Spring

Upper Drifter

conditions will be all the rage!

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. 39 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Chute, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

View from the Madonna I Lift

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100 percent open

Posted March 25, 2018 at 4:17 pm

Mark having fun on Smugglers’ Alley

Once again the forecast called for partly to mostly cloudy skies and the sun decided to take over. It was truly a gorgeous day with great conditions and comfortable temperatures. The Smuggs Friendly Freeride Competition was a blast to watch. It was snowboarders and skiers taking on Madonna Liftline from mid-station down. This section has a bunch of cool features and a mean double fall line!

The crew on Upper Drifter

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 30 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Chilcoot, Thomke’s, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 127 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Tomorrow’s forecast is mostly sunny skies with a high of 38 degrees!

Tony throwing some snow around

Madonna Liftline

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Quality family time

Posted March 24, 2018 at 4:02 pm

Hayleigh and Harley on Lower Catwalk with Sterling in the background

The forecast called for cloudy skies, but the sun decided to make an appearance. I got to take a couple runs with my wife and all 3 kids this afternoon on Madonna. We had a great time on Upper Chilcoot, Lower Catwalk, Red Fox Glades, and Three Mountain Glades. The snow in the trees was wonderful. We all also enjoyed the Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline. The kids made sure that we always ended our run on Lower Madonna Liftline, so that they could do the race again.

We are 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. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 37 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Shuttle, Bootlegger, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly to mostly cloudy skies with a chance of flurries and a high of 34 degrees.

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Morse Mountain Fun

Posted March 22, 2018 at 2:49 pm

Glade skiing at Morse Highlands

My 6 year old daughter Hayleigh only had a half day of school today. We skied together this afternoon on Morse Mountain. We were trying to get to the Morse Highlands area, but every time I turned around Hayleigh was headed into the woods. Hayleigh has learned all the secret glade runs from taking snowboard and ski lessons with our Snow Sport University. Many of these glade runs are low angle like the one on skiers’ right at the top of Log Jam. The low angle allows the kids to focus on steering instead of speed control. To make our afternoon complete we stopped by the Morse Highlands Day Lodge to say hi to Debbie! The kids love Debbie and Debbie loves the kids!

Way Up High School at the entrance to Sugar Woods

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 28 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Waterfall, Black Snake, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 120 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of flurries and a high of 32 degrees.