Upper Chilcoot

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Feeling the #smuggslove on Valentine’s Day!

Posted at 11:05 am

5 inches of beautiful fluffy light snow overnight has made for some amazing turns today. We have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. The Madonna I Lift is closed today due to snowmaking operations on Upper Chilcoot. We have 30 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 29 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, Snow Snake, and McPherson’s, for a total of 120 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 12 to 36 inches. Currently, it is snowing and 2 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers early, breezy, a high of 18 degrees at the base and 9 degrees at higher elevations. Dress warm and enjoy all the new snow!

This is the before picture of Caleb
This is the after picture of Caleb
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New Smuggs family members

Posted at 4:10 pm
Rob and Mae at the top of Catwalk
Mae and Rob with rime ice-covered trees

I was skiing down Upper Chilcoot and was about to turn onto Catwalk when I saw a couple taking photos. I stopped and asked if they wanted me to take their picture. They said, “Yes please.” After I took their picture we had a wonderful conversation. The first time Mae and Rob had ever been to Smuggs was yesterday. Mae asked Rob ” Why did you wait so long to bring me here?!” They told me that they love it here! The people, the terrain, the uncrowded trails, and the vibe is just great. I told Mae and Rob that I’m the Snow Reporter here at Smuggs. This led to a conversation about snow. I was telling them that the white stuff in the trees is not all snow. Sometimes the trees have rime ice on them also. I asked Mae and Rob if they would like to see an example of rime ice-covered trees and they said “Sure.” We took a short hike to some exposed trees with a good bit of rime ice on them. They told me “That they had never seen rime ice-covered trees like that before.” We had a wonderful time checking out the rime ice. It was fantastic meeting the two of you and I look forward to seeing you on the slopes of Smuggs again!

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Calm before the storm

Posted at 4:08 pm
Upper Chilcoot
Lower Madonna Liftline

Tonight’s forecast is calling for periods of snow of 8 to 12 inches. Tomorrow’s forecast is snow showers another 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 24 degrees at the base and 18 degrees at higher elevations. Tomorrow night’s forecast is also snow for another 2 to 4 inches. 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 56 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. More trails may open during the day. 32 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Drifter, Snow Snake, and Magic Learning Trail for a grand total of 131 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions will be powder and packed powder with average base depths of 8 to 32 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is open.

Uphill travel is only open on Sterling Mountain tomorrow morning from 5:30 am to 7:30 am.

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On top of Madonna – all covered in SNOW!

Posted at 3:18 pm

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Got my first turns of the season on Upper Chilcoot. It’s easy to forget that there is almost always more snow, usually a lot more, at the top of the mountain. It may not be snowing in your backyard, but we’ve got our share up here and more is on the way. We received 1-2 inches today. The forecast for Wednesday into Thursday is 8-15 inches of SNOW! Can you say woo-hoo?

We plan to be making snow on Upper FIS tomorrow during the day. This may cause visibility issues and Upper FIS may have to close. Just wanted to give you a heads up, but we will have to wait until tomorrow to see. No pun intended.

The mighty Madonna Mtn as viewed from the Midway trail, just below Rum Runners’ Hideaway.
On top of Madonna getting ready to ride down Upper Chilcoot.
The double black trail Liftline on Madonna Mtn.
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99 acres of freshly groomed terrain for Thursday

Posted at 4:41 pm
Summit of Sterling Mountain
Lower Morse Liftline

It was pretty foggy today, with mixed precipitation turning to snow. The temperature was slowly falling throughout the day. Tonight we plan to make snow on Upper Chilcoot and Waterfall. We received a dusting to an inch of new snow on the top of Sterling. There is a winter weather advisory starting late tomorrow afternoon and ending late Friday afternoon. We could see a storm total of 6 to 10 inches of accumulation possible! Currently, it is 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 28 degrees at the base and 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow we plan to have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. We plan to have the Madonna II Lift, Sterling Lift, Village Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, Morse Highlands Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider all operating. We have 38 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 22 out of the 38 open trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Magic Learning Trail, and Lower Madonna Liftline for a grand total of 99 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine-groomed and variable with average base depths of 6 to 24 inches.

The Nordic Center is open with 9 km of cross-country skiing and 15 km of snowshoeing.

This coming weekend the featured beer for the apres sports parties at Bootlegger’s and the Black Bear Tavern is Labatts.

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Your Morning Update

Posted at 8:43 am

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Snowmaking on Upper Chilcoot and Waterfall is in progress, which could lead to some good news later this week – stay tuned. Meanwhile, Groomers have been putting the tillers to 21 trails. We’ve received 9 inches of snow in the past 6 days.

While heading to the Perk in the Country Store for my usual Maple Latte with oat milk, I saw the Senior VP and head of Mtn. Ops Mark Delaney grooming the Tubing Hill. He shared the latest mountain news with me. I also saw former Snow Sport University snowboard instructors, and now Patrollers, Alissa and Rob. They were getting ready for Milk Run from the Village Lift. Milk Run is the first run down the mountain, and it’s not with oat milk. Speaking of beverages, Labatts is the beer special this weekend for the Apres Sports Parties in Bootleggers’ and the Black Bear Tavern.

Anywho, looks like a sunny day is ahead, with temps from the high teens to the low thirties, and gentle winds. Sounds like a great time to hit the slopes – ski U later.

Mark Delaney is at the wheel grooming the Tubing Hill for tonight’s tubing FUN!
Alissa and Rob – Snowboarding Patrollers – yes, they do exist!
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Winter makes a come back

Posted at 6:28 am

We received an inch of new snow last night, 4 inches in the past 24 hours, 9 inches in the past 2 days, and 212 inches this season so far. Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 30 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 16 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper Rumrunner, Practice Slope, Sam’s Run, Garden Path, Lower FIS, and Upper Chilcoot for a grand total of 71 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and variable with average base depths of 12 to 46 inches. Currently, it is 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers early, a high of 28 degrees at the base, and a high of 22 degrees at the summits. The forecast looks great for the weekend with sunny skies for Saturday and a high of 41 degrees. Sunday’s forecast is partly sunny skies with a high of 47 degrees.

Lower Morse Liftline
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Family + Friends = Smuggs FUN!

Posted at 1:56 pm

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!

L to R: Princess Pam, Leila, Isaiah, Ella, Gillian.
Ed takes a moment of reflection on Lower Chilcoot.
The beginning of Snow Snake with a view of Sterling Mountain through the trees. If you look closely, you can even see the top of Mt Mansfield.
As viewed from the MI Lift, the intersection of Upper Chilcoot and Waterfall make a snowy wishbone. Don’t you wish you were here?!
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Cooler temps and snow in the forecast for tomorrow

Posted at 3:01 pm

Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow developing late with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible at higher elevations. Tomorrow’s forecast is snow showers and another 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible on top with a high of 35 degrees at the base and a high of 27 degrees on top. The Madonna I Lift will be on wind hold tomorrow Monday, March 29th. Tomorrow we plan to have 3 lifts operating, Sterling, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We plan to have 20 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 10 to 44 inches. 17 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Black Snake, Practice Slope, Curley’s Cutback, and Midway for a grand total of 73 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Some trails may have a delayed opening due to grooming.

Lower Madonna Liftline
Ski Patroller Linda mixes fashion with function
Upper Chilcoot