Archives: January 2022

I went skiing this morning on Morse Mountain. I went and got some photos of the snowmaking operations over at Morse Highlands. I went to the office to post the snowmaking photos and I did not take my boots off. I decided to grab my “hard set up” snowboard since I still had ski boots on. I had a blast carving it up on Morse. I then traded in the snowboard for my skis and headed for Madonna Mountain. I skied Upper FIS to Lower Doc’s. Lower Doc’s was groomed one cat width on skier’s left. I went skiing twice and snowboarding once, so I decided to go snowboarding again. This time I changed into snowboarding boots and rode my regular snowboard. It’s fun to mix it up and it keeps you on your toes.

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 67 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Garden Path, Lower Madonna Liftline, and Treasure Run for a grand total of 115 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. Currently, it is partly sunny and 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 27 degrees. Snowmaking continues tonight on Log Jam, Hibernator, Dixie’s Knoll, and Meadowlark. We plan to make snow on Lower Morse Liftline this weekend, so Morse Mountain will be closed to uphill travel this Saturday and Sunday.

The cold temperatures we have been experiencing lately have really kept the snow nice and fluffy. 13 inches of new snow fell 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 69 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. 30 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Snake Bite, Upper FIS, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 121 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Snowmaking operations resume tonight on Dixie’s Knoll and Log Jam. Currently, it is sunny and 3 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is partly sunny skies with a chance of a snow shower and a high of 20 degrees.

Like all resorts across the ski industry, Smugglers’ has experienced greatly increased demand for uphill access. We’re always happy to see people out enjoying the mountain when it is safe to do so. However, with regard to uphill access, it’s a bit of a love-hate relationship between operations staff and uphill travelers due to the high-risk nature of the work being performed on-hill and the activity created by uphill travel. With equipment in use on trails at any time of day or night, operations staff out on the hill 24/7, and a wide range of weather conditions, safety is a huge concern of ours.

Uphill access will remain closed on each mountain that is open for regular operation until there are at least two ways down that mountain.  Uphill access will be open for preseason use on mountains that are not open for lift service, providing that conditions are appropriate and there is no snowmaking or other activity underway on that mountain.

Once uphill access is open, routes available for uphill access, the run back down, and the times they are available will be posted on the Snow Report daily by 4:00 pm for that night and the following morning.  It is imperative that you check the report as changing weather conditions can often lead to changes in the grooming schedule, especially for mornings on Sterling.  When available, nighttime access will be from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Morse daily and on Madonna from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Nighttime access will be available on Sterling from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.  Morning access will be from 5:30 am to 7:30 am on Sterling daily. Morning users must be off the hill by 8:00 am.  All times are subject to change so remember to check the Snow Report before you go!

We do intend to experiment with allowing uphill access on Lower Chilcoot during operating hours this season once we are 100% open.  It will be announced on the Snow Report when available.

The following rules apply to uphill access users:

• Anyone participating in uphill travel, do so at their own risk and assume all liability for their use of the mountain.
• Please be aware that Resort emergency services are not available from 4:45 pm to 8:00 am. Call 911 in case of an emergency.
• Please be aware and respectful of snowmobile and snowcat activity that may be present on the trails during any time period.
• Avoid trails with snowmaking or grooming operations underway. Utilize the routes identified for access on the daily Snow Report. If you do encounter a groomer or snowmobile, please step off the side of the trail until they have passed. This is especially important at night when the operator’s field of vision is constrained.
• Robin’s Run, Freefall, Madonna Liftline (above Link), and all closed trails are off-limits as descent routes at all times.

We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 71 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Magic Learning Trail for a grand total of 116 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is now open with 3 jumps and 4 rails. Currently, it is -6 degrees at the summit of Sterling with clear skies. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies early with increasing clouds and a high of 12 degrees.

Currently, it is -10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 11 degrees. 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 72 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Sam’s Run, Upper FIS, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 116 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is now open with 3 jumps and 4 rails.

Uphill Travel

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

Morse Mountain open 5:00 pm till 10:00 pm

Madonna Mountain is presently closed to uphill travel but will open soon.

We have 71 skiable trails and 41 lift-accessible trails open today. The Madonna I and Madonna II lift are presently on wind hold. We have 6 lifts operating; Sterling, Village, Morse Highlands, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, Sterling T-Bar, and Sir Henry’s Glider. 26 trails have been groomed for today, that’s a grand total of 112 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches.

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. We have 7 lifts operating including, the Madonna I Lift. We have 72 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the top while it lasts. 26 trails have been groomed for today including Upper FIS, Black Snake, and Garden Path. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 0 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a slight chance of a snow shower and a high of 4 degrees. Wind speed could increase this afternoon. Bundle up and enjoy the wonderful conditions.

We just got a sleeper storm. The forecast called for a chance of snow showers with a half-inch of accumulation possible and we got 4 inches today! We received 13 inches of new snow in the past 5 days. 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. 26 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Chilcoot, Black Snake, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 112 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. We are presently making snow on Upper FIS. We will turn off the snowguns soon and groom it for tomorrow. Currently, it is cloudy and 5 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a slight chance of a snow shower and windy with a high of 7 degrees. Bundle up and enjoy the wonderful conditions!

Uphill Travel

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

Morse Mountain open 5:00 pm till 10:00 pm

Madonna Mountain is presently closed to uphill travel but will open soon.