Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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An Opening Day for the record books

Posted November 23, 2018 at 4:49 pm

Assistant Patrol Director Mike Duncan enjoying the great conditions on Freefall.

I had to keep reminding myself today that it’s only November and not February. The amount of natural snow coverage is just amazing! I skied Freefall from the top and it was so much fun. A few more favorites from the day are Snake Bite, Full Nelson, Harvey’s, and Dan’s Ford. I skied Snake Bite this morning for my first run and skier’s left was filled in nicely with beautiful knee deep fluffiness! Actually everything I skied today was good. It is still hard to believe that we had 58 trails open on the first day of the season. One of the great things about having so much terrain open is how it spreads every one out. Having both the Madonna I lift and Sterling lift operating today was a fantastic bonus! I can not wait to go exploring again tomorrow to see what I can find.

Floating down Upper Exhibition

Tomorrow we plan to have 3 lifts operating; Sir Henry’s Magic Carpet, Sterling, and Madonna I from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm. 14 out of the 58 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley and Meadowlark for a grand total of 50 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Our snowmakers have been rapidly making some nice piles of snow on Morse the past days with these cooler temperatures. They plan to make snow on Garden Path tonight. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 38 degrees and light winds.

View from Upper Drifter

Harley having fun Full Nelson

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140 acres of freshly groomed terrain

Posted March 29, 2018 at 7:57 am

Lower Morse Liftline

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 34 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake.

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Quality family time

Posted March 24, 2018 at 4:02 pm

Hayleigh and Harley on Lower Catwalk with Sterling in the background

The forecast called for cloudy skies, but the sun decided to make an appearance. I got to take a couple runs with my wife and all 3 kids this afternoon on Madonna. We had a great time on Upper Chilcoot, Lower Catwalk, Red Fox Glades, and Three Mountain Glades. The snow in the trees was wonderful. We all also enjoyed the Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline. The kids made sure that we always ended our run on Lower Madonna Liftline, so that they could do the race again.

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 37 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Shuttle, Bootlegger, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly to mostly cloudy skies with a chance of flurries and a high of 34 degrees.

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100 percent open on a beautiful day

Posted March 23, 2018 at 11:11 am

Ski Patroller Lee Anderson with his daughter Marlee on Madonna Liftline

We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 28 trails have been groomed for today, including Waterfall, Black Snake, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 120 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently it is partly sunny and 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph.

Hugh B having fun on Freefall

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Good Morning

Posted March 22, 2018 at 7:18 am

Village Courtyard with Madonna in the background

Currently it is partly sunny and 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is increasing clouds with a high of 34 degrees. We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall.

This afternoon we have our MapleFest Winter Carnival — The Village Courtyard and the Green will host our weekly Winter Carnival with a dash of maple flavor in honor of MapleFest! Enjoy games, sugar on snow, and specialty food and beverage samplings starring Vermont maple in products such as Elm Brook Farm’s specialty spirits, TreTap sparkling water, Karen’s Artisan Popcorn, Boyden Valley Winery wines and liqeurs, Butternut Mountain Farm maple products and It’s Arthur’s Fault sweet and savory sauces and marinades. 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm, admission is free. For more details about MapleFest please visit smuggs.com/maple

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Another beautiful day

Posted March 21, 2018 at 4:26 pm

Skiers on Upper Drifter

Today started off a little cool, but that did not last long with the wonderful sunshine. I ventured on all 3 mountains today exploring the woods and also enjoying the groomed terrain. Upper Drifter was groomed last night and is skiing very nicely. I like to stop at different spots when I’m on Upper Drifter just to take in the fantastic views. As I was skiing by Shuttle I noticed that too had been groomed recently. I took a left and made a few GS turns before letting my skis run. The smooth surface made the dip easy to manage and was able to carry my speed up the other side no problem.

Snow Sport University Ski Instructor Larry Arnold on Lower Morse Liftline

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 33 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Waterfall, Bootlegger, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 127 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is mostly cloudy skies with a chance of flurries early and a high of 33 degrees.

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Deep base depths

Posted March 18, 2018 at 3:42 pm

Snow bell

We received 52 inches of new snow in the past 6 days, 83 inches in the month of March so far, and 286 inches this season. All 3 mountains are in great shape.

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 37 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Jolly Rodger, and Log Jam for a grand total of 152 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Ken enjoying the sunshine and fresh snow

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 23 degrees. It is going to be another beautiful day out on the mountain!

Snow Reporter doing a base depth check

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Picture yourself here

Posted March 18, 2018 at 9:21 am

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Village Lift

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 40 trails have been groomed for today, that’s 149 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. 52 inches of new snow in the past 6 days.

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47 inches of new snow in the past 3 days!

Posted March 15, 2018 at 4:02 pm

Lenny skiing the Black Hole

The month of March has been quite the snow producer with 78 inches. We have been in a fantastic weather pattern! I went out this morning with Alex Martin of Smuggs TV and Snow Sport University Snowboard Instructor Kim Martin to film another edition of the No Bull Video Snow Report. We had a great time on Upper Pipeline, Black Snake, Harvey’s Hideaway, Full Nelson and Half Nelson. Later in the day I meet up with my good friends Tony, Big John, and Lenny. We skied Sally’s Alley, Freefall, Black Hole, Upper Drifter, and a bunch of glade runs in between. The smiles were big and the snow is deep!

We are 100 percent open with top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 39 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tonight’s forecast is calling for periods of snow with 2 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for flurries and snow showers and another inch of accumulation possible with a high of 24 degrees.

Still photo from the No Bull Video Snow Report which is on the Smugglers’ Notch Facebook page for your viewing pleasure. Photo credit: Alex Martin

Tony finds some untracked snow

Photo credit: Eric “Lenny” Leondhart