Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Snow Sport University Fun

Posted March 13, 2019 at 4:26 pm

Jonah having fun in the glades on Morse

I have been working as a helper for Snow Sport University this week. Our group is between 4 and 6 years old. We started on Sir Henry’s Learning Hill on Monday morning. We made sure we could all turn and stop before venturing onto the Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift. We then started with mid station runs on Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift. Yesterday we had a blast on the Magic Learning Trail, Wanderer, Lower Morse Liftline, and King Billy’s Bob Den. Today we did a warm up run to mid station before we headed to the top of the Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift. We then skied around the world, which is Midway to Curley’s Cutback and then to Meadowlark. We also had a great time in Yellow Cat’s Lair and skiing the glades off the Magic Learning Trail. Tomorrow’s fun includes more runs before the World Famous Cookie Race on Sir Henry’s Learning Hill.

Taking time to reflect

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 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 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. The Black Hole, Freefall, and Madonna Liftline are open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 42 trails tonight, including Shuttle, Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, Wanderer, Smugglers’ Alley, and Hangman’s Drop.

Luke may have a snowy face, but he is in his happy place!

Weather

Currently it is 26 degrees with partly sunny skies and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with increasing clouds and temperatures between 27 and 48 degrees.

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Fresh snow

Posted March 4, 2019 at 8:00 am

Cleaning off the chairs of the Village Lift

New Snow

We received 1 to 3 inches of new snow overnight making our season total 317 inches.

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open! Today 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 powder and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 36 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Gary B’s, Dixie’s Knoll, Curley’s Cutback, and Thomke’s Express for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is cloudy and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for a chance of light snow early then partly sunny skies later with temperatures between 17 and 26 degrees.

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Just another day in paradise

Posted March 3, 2019 at 5:06 pm

Morse Mountain with Madonna Mountain in the background

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 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 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 36 trails tonight, including Upper Pipeline, Drifter, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

New Snow

We received an inch of new snow last night bringing our season total up to 314 inches.

Weather

Currently it is 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of snow early then partly sunny skies later in the day with temperatures between 17 and 26 degrees.

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Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains

Posted February 27, 2019 at 11:29 am

Snow Sport University Snowboard Lesson on Lower Morse Liftline

Lifts and Trails

We have 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 73 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 47 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Snow Snake, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 157 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is -5 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for sunny skies early with increasing clouds later in the day with temperatures between 0 and 13 degrees.

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Great day on the slopes

Posted January 13, 2019 at 4:22 pm

Sun rays through the trees

It was absolutely gorgeous today with the bluebird skies. There were ice crystals that were floating in the air. The sun shining through the ice crystals made a sundog, which is seen in the top photo to the right. It also made some neat sun rays through the trees. Speaking of trees I had a blast skiing all the fresh snow that is in between them today!

Magical chair on the Sterling Lift

Lifts and Trails

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 77 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 33 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including McPherson’s, Curley’s Cutback, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 131 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches.

Pete having fun in the woods

Weather

Currently it is 12 degrees at the summit of Sterling with sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 14 and 25 degrees.

Snowmaking

Tonight we plan to make snow on skier’s right of Lower Madonna Liftline and Lower FIS. We plan to continue snowmaking on Lower FIS tomorrow and it will be closed.

Snow Reporter checking base depths

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Freefall, Waterfall, Snowfall

Posted January 8, 2019 at 5:31 pm

Freefall as viewed from Waterfall

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. At midday, Madonna I came off wind hold, so I had to grab me some runs up there. My last run was from the top of the mountain back to the Village, like so: Upper Chilcoot > Mulcahy’s Link > Ruthies > Curley’s > Meadowlark. That’s 2,164 feet of vertical and 3 miles of trails, if you’re counting.

I had to stop and see some of my friends in Reservations aka Reso. They are one of the behind-the-scenes departments that keep the Resort going.

SNOW

4″ new snow in the past 24 hours and 16″ in the past week. Snow is in the forecast for most of the week, and I hear that there is an “Upslope” Snow Event that we are well situated for. I’m not sure what that means other than we could get pounded with more snow!

Some of our Reso staff, L to R: Amanda, Kendall, Max, and Kristy. If you booked your trip on the phone, you may have spoke to one of them.

LIFTS & TRAILS

For Wednesday, we plan to have 6 lifts operating including Madonna I, and 71 trails open. 29 trails/118 acres are scheduled to be groomed for tomorrow.

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It is going to be a beautiful day and more terrain just opened

Posted January 4, 2019 at 8:55 am

Nice morning light

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna 1 lift

Lifts and Trails

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts. We now have 56 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 32 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Curley’s Cutback, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 127 acres of freshly groomed terrain. I just skied Upper Chilcoot, Ruthie’s, Curley’s Cutback, and Meadowlark. The new snow that we received recently mixed in with the existing snow made for some very nice corduroy turns this morning. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches.

Weather

Currently it is 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly sunny skies and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast calling for partly cloudy skies early with increasing sunshine and temperatures between 23 and 36 degrees.

The Madonna 1 lift

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Freshies and smiling faces

Posted January 3, 2019 at 3:17 pm

Maeve having fun in ski camp

New Snow

We received 7 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 15 inches in the past week, and 154 inches this season so far!

Lifts and Trails

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 now have 53 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. 32 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Jolly Rodger, Curley’s Cutback, and Ruthie’s for a grand total of 127 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Mitch enjoying all the fresh snow

Weather

Currently it is 25 degrees at the summit of Sterling with light snow and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies early with increasing sunshine and temperatures between 23 and 36 degrees.

Why do they call it Powder Keg?

Powder turns on Morse Mountain

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Winter Wonderland

Posted December 27, 2018 at 5:26 pm

Dominic taking in the views from the summit of Madonna for the first time. The Presidential Range in New Hampshire is seen in the distance to his left.

New Snow

We received 2 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 10 inches in the past 6 days, and 139 inches this season so far.

Snowmaking

We are presently making snow on Meadowlark and Lower Chilcoot. Snowmaking will continue on these two trails tonight.

Lifts and Trails

Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 30 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Lower FIS, Curley’s Cutback, and Black Snake for a grand total of 108 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Summit of Madonna Mountain

Weather

Currently it is partly cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of freezing rain from around 7 am till 11 am, then a chance of rain after 11 am with temperatures between 27 and 40 degrees. Temperatures will increase throughout the day tomorrow.

Snowmaking continues on Lower Chilcoot

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I lift

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It’s starting to add up

Posted December 17, 2018 at 3:31 pm

Snow falling in the Village

We received an inch of new snow today with more in store for tonight. We’re expecting an up-slope event this evening and into tomorrow morning. We could see from 3 to 8 inches of new snow by morning. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers and temperatures between 6 and 20 degrees.

Up-slope snow event

These are highly localized, possibly high impact events that affect the region. Up-slope precipitation in general is produced by cool moist air being forced up the mountain slopes, and in this study, on northerly to westerly winds. One of the main factors in these events is the terrain of Vermont. The Green Mountains, with peaks as high as 4,395 feet (Mount Mansfield) run primarily north to south through the central portion of the state and are one of the main contributors to up-slope snowfall in the state. Research by: Michael Muccilli, Meteorologist, NWS Burlington, VT

Riding down Ruthie’s with Sterling Mountain in the background

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating. We have 53 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 22 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Thomke’s, and Garden Path for a grand total of 100 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are variable and machine groomed with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches.

Snowmaking

Tonight our snowmakers plan to light up Sam’s Run, Meadowlark, Log Jam, Curley’s Cutback, Midway, and Garden Path.

Snow gauge at the top of Sterling Mountain

Events

Winter Solstice Celebration is Friday, December 21 at begins at 4:00 pm

Kick off the festivities at 4:00 pm with Goodtime Charlie, as he hosts a bonfire with s’mores, hot apple cider, music, glow sticks, and hot cocoa. Next, Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Theater provides beats to the rhythm of the sunset. Then, Cirque de Fuego wows us with their fire performance, followed by fireworks! Light up the night and start Winter out with a bang! Located in the Village Greeting Area.

Snowman at the top to the top of the Village Lift