Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Racing into the weekend

Posted January 24, 2020 at 3:19 pm

Today was the Harvey Wesson Memorial Race Series on the Practice Slope. Today’s course was a paneled slalom. I thought I had short enough skis for the tighter turns, but I was not able to make clean carves as I wanted. I still had a great time and I enjoyed watching the racers take on the panel slalom. There is more racing this weekend. Our Free Family Fun Race is tomorrow on Lower Madonna Liftline. On Sunday it is the Vertical Challenge Race on Lower Madonna Liftline. We have many events this weekend. For more information just go to our events page.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 49 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 28 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Hibernator, and Playground for a grand total of 125 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly cloudy and 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a slight chance of freezing rain early then sleet and snow later with a high of 32 degrees. There is snow in the forecast for Saturday night with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible.

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Snow in the forecast

Posted January 24, 2020 at 9:55 am

Snow showers are in the forecast Sunday morning starting after 7 am and will continue until Monday. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 49 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Curley’s Cutback is now open and groomed. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 29 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Thomke’s, and Hibernator for a grand total of 126 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly cloudy and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 35 degrees.

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Ice climbing event this weekend

Posted January 24, 2020 at 8:38 am

Kickoff party and Drytool Comp Friday night, Jan. 24th at Petra Cliffs in Burlington, VT. Doors open at 6 pm. $5 entry! Saturday and Sunday will be filled with a host of clinics at the Barn at Smuggs tailored for the true novice all the way through to the experienced alpinist. Demos from all the best brands will be present so if you’re looking for that next piece of kit, come demo it first before dropping the big bucks.

Online registration for 2020 Ice Bash Clinics is LIVE!

Once registration opens, you can also register over the phone by calling Petra Cliffs Climbing Center: (802) 657-3872

The meeting location for 2020 clinics is The Barn at Smuggs!

Saturday and Sunday clinic participants meet between 8:30 am – 9:00 am and depart for climbing soon after.
Demo equipment is available to Ice Bash Clinic Participants by 8 am.
Demo equipment to the General Public is available after 9 am.
Pick-up of Demo Equipment stops around 10:00 am – 10:30 am.
Demo Equipment returns are between 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Some of the equipment available includes: Ice Boots, Crampons, Ice Tools, Helmets, Harnesses & Gloves!

Clinic Participants will receive an additional welcome packet and packing list prior to clinic registration. You can also find this document HERE!

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A sun dog kind of day

Posted January 23, 2020 at 5:07 pm

**Sun dog seen from the summit of Madonna**

**Two people on Upper FIS seen from Midway**

Another beautiful sunny day here at Smuggs with temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s. Our groomers pushed out the snowmaking whales on Lower Chilcoot and that opened today. We also opened McPherson’s, Playground, and Dan’s Ford. Our snowmakers were busy last night on Birch Run and Curley’s Cutback. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift and the Sterling T-Bar. We have 49 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. 29 trails will be groomed for tomorrow for a grand total of 126 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 35 degrees.

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Picture perfect

Posted January 23, 2020 at 9:02 am

**Ski Patroller Ethan Costello enjoying the view from the summit of Madonna**

**Ski Patrol Director Eli Moore on Upper Chilcoot**

It is going to be another beautiful day! Currently, it is sunny and 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 45 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. 24 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 115 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Last night we made snow on Curley’s Cutback and Birch Run.

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Another gorgeous day

Posted January 22, 2020 at 5:28 pm

**Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from Lower Catwalk**

**The “balcony” behind the Pine Tree Start on Black Snake**

**5 year old Kessler having a blast on Lower Morse Liftline**

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 45 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. 25 trails will be groomed for tomorrow for a grand total of 115 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tonight we plan to make snow on Midway, Curley’s Cutback, and Birch Run. Birch Run will be closed tomorrow for snowmaking. We plan to rebuild the Birch Run Terrain Park and have it open for the weekend. Currently it is partly sunny and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies early with increasing clouds and a high of 33 degrees.

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High School Slalom race on Snake Bite and the Practice Slope

Posted January 22, 2020 at 5:12 pm

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Vertical Challenge

Posted January 22, 2020 at 4:41 pm

This Sunday, January 26th at the Base Lodge., the Vertical Challenge is making its stop at Smugglers’ Notch Resort for a day of fun on the hill with games, races, and giveaways. The Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski and snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the Northeast during each winter season. Skiers and snowboarders are divided by gender and age to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in each category. In addition to the races, there is a festival element, featuring snowy activities for all ages and prize give-aways throughout a fun day at the mountain.

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Sunny skies

Posted January 22, 2020 at 11:09 am

**Bluebird sky against snow-covered trees**

It is another gorgeous day here at Smuggs! Currently, it is sunny and 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is mostly sunny skies with a high of 27 degrees. We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 48 trails open today with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. Playground, Lower Chilcoot, and McPherson’s are closed due to snowmaking. Snake Bite is closed today for a ski race. 26 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 108 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

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Sun & Snow

Posted January 21, 2020 at 3:58 pm