Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Another gorgeous day on the slopes

Posted March 22, 2023 at 4:13 pm

Snow Sport University Training Manager Greg Fatigate having fun on Upper FIS

Hayleigh enjoying the dry snow on Upper FIS

The sun was out in force today with temperatures rising over 20 degrees. The snow stayed dry up high on Madonna and it was spring conditions everywhere else. We have the deepest snow base depths of the season along with milder temperatures for your skiing and riding pleasure. I had a blast today on Upper FIS, Lower Doc’s, Ruthie’s, Snake Bite, Chilcoot, and Black Snake. I went skiing with Nick Anastasi of Smuggs TV this morning. We did a three-mountain tour while filming this week’s No Bull Video Snow Report. This afternoon my daughter Hayleigh and I headed for Madonna Mountain for some after-school runs. We did Upper FIS to Lower Doc’s on our first run. The snow was nice and dry on Upper FIS. As soon as we got into Lower Doc’s the snow was soft the rest of the way down. We had so much that we just had to do it again. Usually, I would be back at my office by 3:30 pm to do the night report, but it was too nice out and we skied till the lifts closed.

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 76 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 35 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Upper FIS will be groomed on the skier’s right half from Catwalk down to Dan’s Ford. We also plan to groom the lower half of Shuttle. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. Currently, it is sunny and 39 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of rain with a high of 43 degrees at the base and 39 degrees at higher elevations.

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Sunday fun day

Posted February 19, 2023 at 4:36 pm

Sundog seen from the base of Madonna Mountain

Upper FIS with Midway and the Village in the background

I want to give a shout-out to our grooming staff. They have been grooming many trails for our skiing and riding pleasure. Some natural snow trails like Thomke’s, Jolly Rodger, Upper Drifter, Lower Drifter, and Goat Path were done last night. Tonight they will attack more natural snow trails like Lower Pipeline and Thomke’s. Tonight they will also groom 33 snowmaking trails, like Upper FIS, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 133 acres of freshly groomed terrain. 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 43 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine-groomed and variable with average base depths of 8 to 30 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a mix at the base, with snow on top and 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 39 degrees at the base and 33 degrees at the summit.

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Clear skies now and snow later

Posted February 9, 2023 at 7:35 am

View from the summit of Madonna this morning. Photo taken by Assistant Patrol Director Ethan Costello

Ski Patrol taking in the beautiful morning light on Madonna. Photo taken by Lift Maintenance Manager Boder Stevens

Currently, it is 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with mostly sunny skies. Today’s forecast is calling for snow to develop with some mixed precipitation and 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible on top, with a high of 35 degrees at the base and 32 degrees at higher elevations. Today 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 65 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 31 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Black Snake, and Log Jam for a grand total of 130 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine-groomed and variable with average base depths of 8 to 30 inches. There is more snow in the forecast for Friday night with another 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible.

The Nordic Center is open with 15 km of snowshoeing and 17 km of cross-country trails. The ice rink is presently closed.

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

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More Families… more FUN!

Posted February 7, 2023 at 3:53 pm

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. The Coadys, Hogans, Kuehls, Smarts, and Forrsets live in the same neighborhood in Toronto, Canada. For 16 years, they’ve been coming to Smuggs together – 2, 3, 4, and sometimes 5 families at a time! Can you say “It takes a Village?” Today I took some runs with representatives of 4 of the families. First, it was warm-up runs on Morse. Then we headed to the upper mountains to make turns on Upper FIS and Smugglers’ Alley, both of which were groomed. We had fun, eh.

Kevin Coady, Skyler Hogan, Sean Forrest, and Brad Smart from Toronto, Canada. From the top of the Village Lift with Madonna Mountain in the background.

Meet the new T-Bar shack. The original was damaged in a recent weather event.

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A little fresh snow

Posted January 30, 2023 at 4:03 pm

We received an inch of new snow in the past 24 hours, 5 inches in the past 2 days, 20 inches in the past 5 days, and 57 inches in the month of January so far. We are also expecting another 1 to 2 inches of new snow tonight. Upper FIS was groomed last night from Catwalk down to Dan’s Ford. The fresh snow on top of the groomed terrain was a bunch of fun. Upper Madonna Liftline was open from the top down to the Robin’s Run work road. We are presently making snow on McPherson’s, Playground, Snake Bite, and Upper FIS below Dan’s Ford. Some of these trails are closed due to snowmaking. 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 69 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 25 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Upper FIS, and Howie’s Wanderer for a grand total of 107 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine-groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 8 to 30 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 16 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies early becoming partly sunny, with a high of 11 degrees with temperatures falling throughout the day. Bundle up and enjoy the great conditions!

The Nordic Center is open with 15 km of snowshoeing and 17 km of cross-country trails. The small ice rink is also open.

This weekend the featured beverage for the apres sports parties at Bootlegger’s and the Black Bear Tavern is Woodchuck.

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Snow Cat is purring

Posted January 24, 2023 at 7:52 am

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Here be yer morning update. 15 inches of white gold in the past 5 days. Snow of 1 to 3 inches at higher elevations is forecasted for today, with 6 to 12 inches for Wednesday night into Thursday! Snowmaking on Upper F.I.S. from Catwalk to Goat Path (this may cause the closure of a few nearby trails). Grooming on 24 trails for a total of 95 acres of freshly groomed terrain (can’t you hear Hugh’s voice when you read that?). OK, I gotta get my second cup of coffee, then I’ll feel purr-fect.

It’s not just the trails that get groomed, it’s the areas between and around the lifts, and of course the Tubing Hill. Hey, can you do my driveway?

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A little foggy this afternoon

Posted March 31, 2022 at 3:22 pm

Some trails had to be closed until they softened this morning. The temperature rose pretty quickly and we had spring conditions in no time. My trail pick of the day was Upper FIS. The skiers’ right side was pretty smooth with soft conditions. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including Madonna I. We have 46 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Chilcoot, Birch Run, Playground, Practice Slope, Curley’s Cutback, and Garden Path for a grand total of 110 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 8 to 52 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 3 jumps and 6 rails. Currently, it is cloudy and 41 degrees with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for rain turning to snow at the base and snow on top with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible. A high of 40 degrees at the base and 33 degrees at higher elevations with temperatures falling throughout the day. Tomorrow night’s forecast is snow showers another 3 to 5 of new snow possible at higher elevations.

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Spring conditions

Posted March 31, 2022 at 9:13 am

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Daily Recommended Serving

Posted March 8, 2022 at 1:35 pm

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Our groomers will be busy overnight, preparing 34 trails/132 acres for tomorrow – including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Log Jam. We plan to have 6 lifts operating including Madonna I and Morse Highlands. This should help you get your daily on-hill experience.

What constitutes a full day of skiing/riding? My friend RoML says 3 runs is his daily recommended serving. I’ve also heard 4 runs. What is your definition of a day on the slopes?

RoML bringing out the blue. His daily recommended serving for a day of skiing is 3 runs.

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Great day on the slopes

Posted February 20, 2022 at 3:35 pm

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. The Madonna I Lift will be open from 10 am till 2 pm due to limited terrain. The Madonna II Lift will open at 8:30 am tomorrow. We have 41 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, Snow Snake, Practice Slope, Goat Path, and Dixie’s Knoll for a grand total of 126 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and loose granular with average base depths of 16 to 48 inches. Currently, it is partly sunny and 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a slight chance of some freezing drizzle a high of 34 degrees at the base and 26 degrees at higher elevations.

Uphill Travel

Morse Mountain is open from 5 pm till 10 pm

Sterling Mountain is open from 5:30 am till 7:30 am

I took this photo looking into the sun and it made for some cool colors.

Trees covered in rime ice. Rime ice forms when water droplets in fog freeze to the outer surface of objects. The fog freezes to the windward side of the branches.

Do you see the skier on Upper FIS?