Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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It was another sunny day!

Posted January 31, 2020 at 5:27 pm

**Marlee enjoying the great conditions in Moonshiner’s Glades**

**Andrew and River having fun in Mustache Glades**

**Colby skis Upper Madonna Liftline for the first time!**

**Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the summit of Madonna**

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We now have 73 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. Last night we made snow on Lower Morse Liftline and Meadowlark. We now have 3 terrain parks open, Birch Run, Log Jam, and Riglet. We plan to groom 32 trails tonight, including McPherson’s, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 131 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently it is partly cloudy and 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers and a high of 30 degrees.

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Terrain park and features

Posted January 31, 2020 at 10:25 am

**The Log Jam Terrain Park is now open!**

The Log Jam Terrain Park is now open with a couple trapezoids, a mellow serpentine half pipe, and a spine. Our groomers also make some rollers at the base of the Lower Morse Liftline.

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Snowmaking and grooming

Posted January 31, 2020 at 7:48 am

**Tower gun running at the base area of the Village Lift**

Last night we made snow on skier’s right of Lower Morse Liftline and Meadowlark. The snowguns on Lower Morse Liftline have been shut down and our groomers are now smoothing out the snowmaking piles.

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We plan to have 73 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 30 trails have been groomed for today, including McPherson’s and Thomke’s for a grand total of 123 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with beautiful sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for sunny skies early with increasing clouds and a high of 30 degrees. There is no local race today due to the Essex High School race on Sterling today.

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Another beautiful day

Posted January 30, 2020 at 5:02 pm

**Hannah having fun on Upper Rumrunner**

**Marlee race training on Practice Slope**

It was so pretty today with the bluebird skies and snow-covered trees. It was a little cold to start the day, but the sun came out and worked its magic. There was also no wind which was nice. The conditions are just fantastic. I skied Upper FIS this morning and it was really nice. There are small bumps with edgeable snow. I also found some great snow in the glades of Poacher’s Woods, Highlander, and Mustache.

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 now have 73 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. Last night we made snow on Log Jam, Hibernator, and Snow Snake. All 3 of these trails will be groomed tonight and we plan to have them open tomorrow. Tonight we plan to make snow on skier’s right of Lower Morse Liftline. It will be groomed early in the morning and we plan to have it open also. 30 trails will be groomed tonight, including McPherson’s, Dixie’s Knoll, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 123 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is sunny and 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 31 degrees.

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Bluebird skies

Posted January 30, 2020 at 11:20 am

**Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I Lift**

**Marlee crossing the bridge in “Mustache”**

**Cambridge Elementary School Winter Wellness Program**

**Lee enjoying the great conditions in “Mustache”**

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Clear skies

Posted January 30, 2020 at 7:51 am

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We now have 69 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 31 trails have been groomed for today, including Shuttle, Curley’s Cutback, and Jolly Rodger for a grand total of 94 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Last night we made snow on Snow Snake, Log Jam, Hibernator, and the base area of the Village Lift. Currently it is sunny and 6 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 25 degrees.

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Another beautiful day on the slopes

Posted January 29, 2020 at 5:33 pm

**Upper Drifter with the top of Mount Mansfield seen through the clouds**

**Matt McCawley’s class from the Cambridge Elementary School here for their Winter Wellness**

**Ritter knocking off the rime ice from the chairs on the Madonna I Lift**

**Mike McAdoo and Arlo Pouliot winching Upper Drifter. This photo was taken Jan. 28, 2020**

**Bright white trees against the blue sky on Madonna**

I want to thank Mike McAdoo and Arlo Pouliot for their work on Upper Drifter. They used the winch cat to pull snow up Drifter yesterday. They did a great job covering the rough spots near the fence. The wind loves to take the snow and move it away from the fence. The last photo “farming snow” is where the snow usually ends up. The groomers can pull the snow back on the trail and then down around the fence. This method of farming snow is a great way to capture the blown snow.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We now have 69 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. We are presently making snow on Snow Snake, Log Jam, Hibernator, and the base area of the Village Lift. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Shuttle, Jolly Rodger, and Wanderer for a grand total of 94 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly sunny and 5 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 25 degrees. Log Jam and Hibernator will be closed tomorrow for snowmaking.

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Snowmaking in progress

Posted January 29, 2020 at 11:05 am

**Tower guns at the base of the Village Lift**

Snowmaking continues around the clock on Log Jam, Snow Snake, Hibernator, and the base of the Village Lift. Log Jam and Hibernator are closed today due to snowmaking.

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Wedding bells on Madonna

Posted January 29, 2020 at 9:45 am

The happy couple complete with Ski Patrol officiant. p: Kim Martin Photography

Underneath all that beard is a VERY happy man. p: Kim Martin Photography

The light on top was like a dream today. p: Kim Martin Photography

Congratulations! p: Kim Martin Photography

Congratulations to Anna and Corey! A beautiful wedding this morning at the summit of Madonna Mountain. The clouds cleared during the ceremony making their special moment even more wonderful. Anna and Corey are both employees here at Smuggs. Anna is a lift operator and Corey is a snowmaker. I wish you both all the best and thank you for inviting me to your wedding!

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We now have 69 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. Log Jam and Hibernator are closed today due to snowmaking. We are also making snow on Snow Snake. Currently, it is partly cloudy and 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for increasing sunshine with a high of 16 degrees.

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Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Posted January 28, 2020 at 4:26 pm