Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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If you build it, they will come

Posted March 30, 2023 at 3:33 pm

Pond Skimming is this Saturday, April 1st. Registration opens at 10 am, at the Smugglers’ Notch Tent in Parking Lot #1, to the first 100 people. Pond Skimming starts at noon in the Zone.

Spring skiing and riding yesterday followed by a powder day today! We received 4 inches of new snow overnight and 11 inches in the past 5 days. I had a blast playing in the drifts where the wind had moved the new snow on trails like Drifter. I also found some great turns in the trees where the snow was more like a fluffy blanket, like in the Alley woods and Poacher’s Woods. I was also lucky enough to get fresh tracks on Full Nelson. The calendar says spring, but I am not going to turn down another powder day before the season is over!

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. Madonna and Sterling are 100 percent open. We have 72 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 12 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 32 trails tonight, including Upper FIS, Drifter, Snow Snake, Howie’s Wanderer, Smugglers’ Alley, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 130 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly sunny and 17 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies early with snow in the afternoon 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible on top, a high of 38 degrees at the base, and 30 degrees at higher elevations.

To see this week’s No Bull Video Snow Report go to https://youtu.be/3d–XLZv_RM

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

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Molly Rail Jam

Posted March 9, 2020 at 8:07 am

This Sunday, March 15th in the Zone Terrain Park!

Molly Fund Benefit Rail Jam – Come out and support the Molly Fund and party down with your Northern Vermont family! Entry fee is by donation and all proceeds will go to the Molly Fund on behalf of NVT. Registration will be from 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm in the Yurt in Parking Lot 1, the Jam is in the Zone Terrain Park! Please bring a snack or treat to share. We will be providing burgers and dogs on the grill! Remember to dress in PINK! Prizes will be awarded for the best pink attire. Athletes: Don’t forget to get out there and fundraise for the foundation. Whoever raises the most money gets to compete for free for the 2020 season!! We will be awarding the Woodward camp award as well as a few other surprises!

We have 70 skiable trails and 55 lift accessible trails open today. The Madonna I lift is presently on wind hold. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 16 to 56 inches. We will have spring conditions by this afternoon. 37 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 148 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently it is sunny and 41 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 54 degrees.

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Bluebird skies

Posted March 7, 2020 at 3:25 pm

It was another gorgeous day on the slopes! We received an inch of new snow last night and 224 inches this season so far. Our groomers were very busy last night smoothing out 146 acres. I skied Upper FIS first thing this morning and it was wonderful. It was groomed early last night, so the new snow was on top of the groomed snow. The wind had moved the snow around just a bit. It was nice to play in the small drifts. Our groomers are going to be even busier tonight with 41 trails on the list, including Upper FIS, Bootlegger, Snake Bite, Timberrrr, Ruthie’s, and Smugglers’ Alley. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 68 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 16 to 56 inches. Log Jam Terrain Park, Birch Run Terrain Park, and Riglet Park are all open. The Upper Zone is open and also Lower Knight’s Revenge. Currently, it is sunny and 17 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 42 degrees.

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If you build it they will come

Posted April 4, 2019 at 2:51 pm

The view from above

Mike McAdoo and Arlo Pouliot have been very busy the past few days moving snow around in the Zone Terrain Park. First, they removed all the rails from the park and then they starting pushing. This winter we made some big piles of snow in the upper half of the Zone. They were left there to be used at a later date, well that time has come. Mike has been pushing the snow down from the upper half of the Zone to the pond. Arlo has been using the winch cat to push the snow up from the lower half of the Zone to the pond. All of their hard work is paying off, because the pond is looking great! The 9th Annual Pond Skimming, Chillin’ & Grillin’ Tailgate Party is this Saturday, April 6th!

The Pond is really starting to take shape

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow 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 57 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. We plan to groom 39 trails tonight, including Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 134 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Winch Cat pushing snow up from below

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 30 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for sunny skies early with increasing clouds, a chance of snow/rain late in the day and temperatures between 22 and 41 degrees.

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Don’t miss Spring events

Posted March 25, 2019 at 9:48 am

9th Annual Pond Skimming and Chillin’ & Grillin’ is April 6th

Pond Skimming

Sterling Mountain Practice Slope 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm

Elvis, a gorilla, guys in bikinis – you’ll see it all in the Zone Terrain Park during Pond Skimming! Registration for this free event starts at 10:00 am at the Smugglers’ Notch tent in Parking Lot 1. The first skimmer launches toward the pond at 12:00 noon. Prizes awarded for best costume. A “don’t miss” for spectators! Presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Chillin’ & Grillin’

Parking Lot 1 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Blue skies, long sunny afternoons … ahhhh, Spring! Join us for the ultimate tailgate party in Parking Lot 1, home of the finest tailgate scene since Soldier Field at the ’86 Bears.

Join us in the Sierra Nevada beer garden for a refreshing brew and refuel at the all-day-long Chillin’ & Grillin’ tailgate party. Impress us with your bumperside party planning skills and you could win the Ultimate Tailgate Prize! Stop by our Vendor Village and the Smugglers’ Notch tent to enter for a chance to win awesome prizes! Drawings will be held throughout the afternoon for cash and prizes. MORE PRIZES THAN EVER THIS YEAR! Enter our Chillin’ 50/50 raffle where proceeds will benefit a local charity of the winner’s choice.

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100 percent open

Posted March 8, 2019 at 4:30 pm

Tony enjoying some nice snow in the woods

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have 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. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 35 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Bootlegger, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Jay Tisbert and Jeff Spring just after loading the Sterling Lift. Off to make some turns on this beautiful day!

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 15 and 28 degrees.

Events

This weekend we have our Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline from 11 am till 2 pm.

Saturday we have Grass Sticks bamboo pole demo in front of the Base Lodge

This is Don who has been skiing for 63 years! He bought his ski boots back in 1966, they were new and still wears them today.

Sunday Molly Fund Rail Jam at the Zone Terrain Park

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Another gorgeous day!

Posted March 1, 2019 at 6:14 pm

Upper Chilcoot

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. Tomorrow we plan to 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. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 46 trails for tomorrow, including Bootlegger’s, Upper FIS, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 156 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Groomer Arlo Pouliot pushing out the snowmaking whales on the Upper Zone

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is cloudy skies with a chance of light snow later in the day with temperatures between 21 and 35 degrees.

William catching some air off the fun box

Hayleigh having fun on Full Nelson

Harley enjoying the groomed terrain on Smugglers’ Alley

Hugh B get a little shifty in the Birch Run Terrain Park

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Stockpiling

Posted February 28, 2019 at 5:43 pm

Tower Fan Gun next to the pile of snow that it made last night

I want thank our snowmakers for all their hard work last night! They were busy making snow on the upper part of the Zone Terrain Park. We are stockpiling the snow in the Upper Zone! We have many events this season and one of my favorites is the Chillin n’ Grillin Tail Party / Pond Skimming. The snow in the Upper Zone is in reserve for when we need to build the “pond.” Our snowmakers will be busy again tonight in the Upper Zone.

New Snow

We received an inch of new snow last night, 7 inches in the past 5 days, and 313 inches this season so far!

When you’re a Fan Gun, it’s OK to double park in Lot #1

Lifts and Trails

We are 100 percent open! 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 all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 12 and 28 degrees.

Snowmaking whales in the Upper Zone

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Fresh snow and sunshine

Posted February 28, 2019 at 9:24 am

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from Upper Drifter

New Snow

We received an inch of new snow last night, 7 inches in the past 5 days, and 313 inches this season so far!

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open! We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 42 trails have been groomed for today, including Shuttle, Ruthie’s, Smugglers’ Alley, and Evaporator for a grand total of 156 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Shadow dancing on Shuttle

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 2 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is sunny skies with temperatures between 5 and 17 degrees.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Upper Zone. We plan to make snow on the Upper Zone tonight also.

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Another gorgeous day

Posted February 23, 2019 at 4:14 pm

Just picture perfect

Today started off partly sunny and by this afternoon it was bluebird. The temperatures rose from the low teens into the upper twenties. It was great to soak up the sun and recharge the batteries. I had a blast this morning with my son Hugh B on Sterling. We went on tour looking for powder stashes in the trees and also played around in the Zone Terrain Park. This afternoon I ran into good friends of mine Carrie, Steph, and Phil. We all enjoyed some nice turns on Harvey’s Hideaway to Full Nelson.

Phil having fun on Harvey’s Hideaway

Lifts and Trails

Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We plan to have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 33 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Upper Pipeline for a grand total of 135 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow and sleet early 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible then a chance of rain later with temperatures between 30 and 39 degrees.