Robin’s Run, Upper Madonna Liftline, Freefall, Shakedown, Lower Catwalk, and Goat Path now open. Upper FIS is open from Catwalk down to the Lower Doc’s cutoff. Catwalk and Doc’s Dempsey’s Glades also open.
Dropping ropes
Archives: January 2021
Fresh snow
We received 1 to 2 inches of new snow today and 13 inches in the past week. The new snow is light and fluffy due to the colder temperatures. Smugglers’ Alley is in great shape! The new snow on top of the groomed snow is skiing fantastic. The forecast is calling for a couple more inches of snow today. We are presently making snow on Upper FIS. Bundle up and enjoy the wonderful conditions!
Good morning
We received a dusting to an inch of new snow last night and 12 inches in the past week. Currently, it snowing and 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Today’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 19 degrees. Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 62 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 3 jumps, a spine, and a rail. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with base depths of 14 to 46 inches. 24 trails have been groomed for today, including Snake Bite, Curley’s Cutback, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 105 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Upper FIS is closed today due to snowmaking.
Winter wonderland
We received an inch of new snow last night and 15 inches in the past week. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 62 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Upper FIS will be closed tomorrow due to snowmaking. 24 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley and Waterfall for a grand total of 105 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with an inch of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is also snow showers with another 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 17 degrees. Currently it is cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling.
Taking a closer look
The size and shape of a snowflake are determined by the air temperature in the cloud and humidity. No two snowflakes are exactly the same. Each snowflake takes a slightly different path from the sky to the ground and encounters slightly different atmospheric conditions as it falls. This gives each snowflake a different growth rate and shape. When you look closely at snowflakes many times they look broken or they look like a clump of snow crystals. This is from colliding or sticking to other snowflakes as they fall to the ground.
Snow in the forecast
Forecast for Latitude 44.57°N and Longitude 72.78°W (Elev. 2402 ft)
Today: Light snow, mainly before 5 pm, then a chance of snow showers after 5 pm. High near 26 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.
Tonight: Light snow with a chance of snow showers before 11 pm, then light snow likely between 11 pm and 2 am, then a chance of snow showers after 2 am. Low around 11 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Thursday: Light snow likely. Cloudy, with the temperature falling to around 6 degrees by 5 pm. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Thursday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 1 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -6 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
We received an inch of new snow last night and 15 inches in the past week. Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 63 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with base depths of 14 to 46 inches. 22 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 101 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is snowing and 17 degrees at the summit of Sterling.
Doc’s Orders: Sun & Snow
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. I had an appointment at Doc Dempsey’s Office today. The check-up was good. Little scratchy up high, but as Chase from Patrol quoted in regards to skis and snowboards on these conditions, “they’re not jewels, they’re tools.” At midday it felt like a heatwave, even Charles at M1 had his sleeves rolled up. I had a nice Black Bear lunchtime chat with Jammin’ Sam (Acoustic Duo, Trio, and Smuggs House Band) and long-time Smuggler Brett. Anywho, I was prescribed Sun & Snow and told to not get in the backseat when hitting the moguls. Hey, I feel better already.
L to R: Rudy Dauth, Travis LeBlanc, Jammin’ Sam Averbuck, Chris “Fingers” Doncaster, and the legendary Goodtime Charlie Rice.
From Snow Report Central
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. What a difference a week makes. Since I last reported here, we’ve received 21 inches of snow, and that’s in addition to our snowmaking efforts! Speaking of which, Upper FIS will be closed today for more snowmaking. You also need to know that parts of Black Snake and all of Snake Bite will be closed today for a Ski Race, but they will be completely open by 2 pm. I’m glad to report that it will be a good day to ski/ride with 60 available trails and a forecast of partly sunny skies and a high of 29 degrees.
Sunny skies early, flurries later
Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 61 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with base depths of 14 to 46 inches. 20 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 87 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Upper FIS is closed due to snowmaking. Snake Bite and parts of Black Snake will be closed tomorrow for a ski race. They should open again around 2:00 pm tomorrow afternoon. Currently it is cloudy and 11 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 26 degrees.
Race on Sterling
Women’s Divisional FIS GS race today on Black Snake, Snake Bite, and the Practice Slope. Black Snake and Snake Bite will be closed while the race is underway. We plan to open them around 2:00 pm this afternoon once the race is complete for the day. If you need to get back to Parking Lot #1 you can cross the racecourse at mid-station of the Sterling T-Bar. Please make sure to look up before ever crossing a racecourse.
