Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Powder Day

Posted December 5, 2019 at 4:35 pm

Ski Patroller Walt Lattrell cleaning off the snow gauge at the top of Sterling.

We received 3 to 5 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 11 inches in the past week. We now have 23 trails open, including Full Nelson and Harvey’s Hideaway. This weekend we plan to have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. We plan to have the Madonna II lift operating this weekend along with Mogul Mouse Magic Lift to mid-station. We plan to resume snowmaking tonight on Mulcahy’s Link, Lower FIS, and Lower Madonna Liftline. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 48 inches. Tomorrow we plan to have Sterling Lift and Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet operating. Great conditions!

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The Usual Suspects

Posted April 12, 2019 at 11:38 am

Dale & Darcy – longtime and frequent skiers. They are also talented musicians.

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Despite the date on the calendar, conditions are GREAT! Therefore, many of the usual suspects were on the slopes. It’s always fun to hang out with Darcy & Dale and talk tunes and trails. At the Rumrunner-Black Snake intersection we conferred with Blinky and Dr. John, and their suggestion was Harvey’s to Full Nelson, and good advice it was.

LIFTS & TRAILS

This Saturday and Sunday both Madonna I and Sterling will be operating with 50+ trails open for intermediates and experts. Expect spring conditions. We will be closed Monday, April 15th – Friday, April 19th and then RE-OPEN next weekend. On Saturday, April 20th we plan to operate both Madonna I and Sterling. On Sunday, April 21st, only the Sterling Lift will be running (loading for the Easter Sunrise Service is from 6:00 am – 6:30 am).

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Winter Wonderland

Posted February 27, 2019 at 4:53 pm

Upper Drifter

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 plan to have 74 out of 78 trails open tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 42 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Sam’s Run, and Harvey’s Hideaway for a grand total of 156 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I lift near the summit

New Snow

We received 6 inches of snow in the past 4 days, 12 inches in the past week, and 312 inches this season so far.

Weather

Currently it is 4 degrees at the summit of Sterling with cloudy skies and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tonight’s forecast is snow 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies early with gradual clearing and temperatures between 5 and 18 degrees.

Upper Chilcoot

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Another gorgeous day

Posted February 23, 2019 at 4:14 pm

Just picture perfect

Today started off partly sunny and by this afternoon it was bluebird. The temperatures rose from the low teens into the upper twenties. It was great to soak up the sun and recharge the batteries. I had a blast this morning with my son Hugh B on Sterling. We went on tour looking for powder stashes in the trees and also played around in the Zone Terrain Park. This afternoon I ran into good friends of mine Carrie, Steph, and Phil. We all enjoyed some nice turns on Harvey’s Hideaway to Full Nelson.

Phil having fun on Harvey’s Hideaway

Lifts and Trails

Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We plan to have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 33 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Upper Pipeline for a grand total of 135 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow and sleet early 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible then a chance of rain later with temperatures between 30 and 39 degrees.

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Eastern Cup

Posted January 26, 2019 at 11:04 am

Today’s race is a slalom race which starts at the top of Snake Bite and goes down onto the Practice Slope. The caliber of these skiers is just amazing! These are some of the best racers on the east coast and they are here to take on what ever Smuggs has to offer. Tomorrow’s race is a giant slalom which will begin at the pine tree start on Black Snake, which is near the top of Harvey’s Hideaway. These racers will built up speed on Black Snake before plunging onto the steep pitch of Snake Bite. They will be holding on with all they have to make it around each gate as they work their way down Snake Bite. Spectators are welcome. Black Snake will be closed tomorrow from the top of Harvey’s Hideaway down and Snake Bite will also be closed tomorrow for the race.

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More new snow overnight

Posted January 26, 2019 at 8:04 am

Clearing the new snow from the chairs on the Village Lift

New Snow

We received 4 inches of new snow overnight, 10 inches in the past 2 days, and 34 inches in the past week!

Lifts and Trails

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. 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. 39 trails have been groomed for today, including Playground, Snow Snake, and Harvey’s Hideaway for a grand total of 151 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is 4 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly cloudy skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies, a chance of snow showers and temperatures between 4 and 17 degrees.

Events

Today

Never Summer Snowboard Demo Day

Hosted by No School Snowboard Shop, Never Summer Snowboards will be at the Madonna/Sterling Base Lodge! Stop by and check out their complete 2019 line of snowboards from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. don’t miss this opportunity to try No School’s best selling line of snowboards! Never Summer boards are hand made in the USA in Denver, Colorado!

Eastern Cup Slalom Race on Snake Bite

Snowshoe Festival at the Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Adventure Center

This Weekend

Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline

Winterfest presented by the Cambridge Area Rotary

For event details just go to our events page.

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Winter Wonderland

Posted January 7, 2019 at 5:44 pm

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I 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 now have 70 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 Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 122 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We plan to groom the bottom part of Shuttle tonight also.

Top of Sterling

New Snow

We received 4 inches of new snow in the past 2 days, 16 inches in the past week, and 159 inches this season so far.

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for light snow early then turning to a mix later in the day with 1 inch of accumulation possible and temperatures between 20 and 36 degrees. There is snow in the forecast through Thursday with up to a foot of accumulation possible!

Big John throwing some snow around on Harvey’s Hideaway

Terrain Parks

Birch Run and Lower Knight’s Revenge Terrain Parks are both open. Log Jam Terrain Park is presently under construction.

Snowmaking

Tonight we are making snow on the top of Morse, Snow Snake, Lower Morse Liftline on skier’s right, Sir Henry’s, and Meadowlark.

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More open terrain

Posted December 27, 2018 at 11:37 am

Steve Wry enjoying the new snow on Full Nelson

Full Nelson, Highlander Glades, Lower Black Bear, Lower Harvey’s Hideaway, and Jolly Rodger are now open. We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 34 trails open with terrain for all ability levels.

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More terrain opens tomorrow

Posted December 14, 2018 at 4:36 pm

Harvey’s Hideaway

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating; Village Lift, Madonna I Lift, Sterling Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We plan to have 64 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 20 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Chilcoot, Curley’s Cutback, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 101 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 20 to 50 inches.

Writer Jay Flemma having a blast on Black Snake

Weather

Currently it is 30 degrees at the summit of Sterling with cloudy skies and winds of 15 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with temperatures between 30 and 39 degrees.

Mike enjoying the soft snow on Full Nelson

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Soft conditions

Posted March 30, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Lamoille Union Middle School 7th graders here at Smuggs as part of their Fitness Friday Program. Photo credit: Melissa Piscitelli

We received a dusting of new snow on top this morning. The spring conditions are just so much fun! I had a blast today with good friends Ken and Justin on Sterling Mountain. We enjoyed Hangman’s Drop, Upper Pipeline, Black Snake, Harveys’ Hideaway, Full Nelson, and the Practice Slope. I would have to say that Upper Pipeline was my favorite today. It was recently groomed and was skiing very well.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 57

Justin having fun on Upper Pipeline

trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 36 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Meadowlark for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies early then partly sunny skies in the afternoon with a high of 42 degrees.

Ken loving the great conditions