Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Calm before the storm

Posted February 22, 2023 at 4:08 pm

Tonight’s forecast is calling for periods of snow of 8 to 12 inches. Tomorrow’s forecast is snow showers another 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 24 degrees at the base and 18 degrees at higher elevations. Tomorrow night’s forecast is also snow for another 2 to 4 inches. 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 56 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. More trails may open during the day. 32 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Drifter, Snow Snake, and Magic Learning Trail for a grand total of 131 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions will be powder and packed powder with average base depths of 8 to 32 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is open.

Uphill travel is only open on Sterling Mountain tomorrow morning from 5:30 am to 7:30 am.

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Cooler temps and snow in the forecast for tomorrow

Posted March 28, 2021 at 3:01 pm

Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow developing late with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible at higher elevations. Tomorrow’s forecast is snow showers and another 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible on top with a high of 35 degrees at the base and a high of 27 degrees on top. The Madonna I Lift will be on wind hold tomorrow Monday, March 29th. Tomorrow we plan to have 3 lifts operating, Sterling, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We plan to have 20 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 10 to 44 inches. 17 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Black Snake, Practice Slope, Curley’s Cutback, and Midway for a grand total of 73 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Some trails may have a delayed opening due to grooming.

Ski Patroller Linda mixes fashion with function

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Lift operation time change for Friday

Posted March 25, 2021 at 2:49 pm

Due to wet weather tomorrow we will be only running the Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift and the Sterling Lift. We plan to have the Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. We plan to have the Sterling Lift open from noon to 4:00 pm. If we receive less rain than expected we will open the Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift at 10:00 am and the Sterling Lift at 11:00 am. Check the trail by trail report tomorrow morning to get the most up-to-date information. We plan to have 30 trails open tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are spring conditions and machine groomed with base depths of 12 to 46 inches. We plan to groom 15 trails for tomorrow, including Rumrunner, Treasure Run, and Garden Path for a grand total of 60 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is sunny and 55 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for rain showers with a high of 60 degrees.

Uphill traffic will be open tomorrow during the day on Madonna Mountain. Sterling Mountain is open to uphill traffic daily from 5:30 am till 7:30 am. Morse Mountain is open to uphill traffic daily from 5:00 pm till 10:00 pm.

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Making fun of winter

Posted February 15, 2021 at 3:59 pm

We received a dusting of new snow today with more on the way. We could see 4 to 8 inches of new snow tonight. Tomorrow’s forecast is also snow with another 4 to 8 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 29 degrees. We are 99 percent open with 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 16 to 50 inches. 26 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Chilcoot, Thomke’s, and Log Jam for a grand total of 116 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

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More open terrain

Posted March 5, 2020 at 4:40 pm

**Cruising down Lower Madonna Liftline**

I would like to give a shout out to our groomers! They have been pretty busy the past couple of nights. They have been getting more terrain open for your skiing and riding pleasure. Tonight they will be winching Upper FIS. They will also be grooming Ruthie’s, McPherson’s, Bootlegger, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 150 acres of freshly groomed terrain. 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 plan to have 51 trails open for tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 16 to 56 inches. Currently, it is partly sunny and 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers a half an inch of accumulation possible and a high of 37 degrees.

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More new snow overnight

Posted November 30, 2019 at 8:25 am

**7 inches of new snow in the past 3 days.**

Today we have Sterling Lift and Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet operating. We now have 14 trails open with terrain for beginners, intermediates, and experts. We received 2 inches of new snow overnight making our season total 26 inches. 7 out of the 14 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 25 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Snowmaking continues around the clock on Lower FIS, Lower Madonna Liftline, and Mulcahy’s Link. Today’s forecast is calling for skies becoming partly sunny with a high of 18 degrees.

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Gorgeous Day!

Posted March 9, 2019 at 4:18 pm

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Village Lift

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. Weather permitting tomorrow 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. The Black Hole, Freefall, and the 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 45 trails tonight, including Upper FIS, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 160 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Taking a ride through Bermuda

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible and a chance of mix precipitation late in the day, breezy, and temperatures between 20 and 33 degrees.

Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline from 11 am till 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays

Racing towards the finish

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Snow in the forecast

Posted March 3, 2019 at 7:27 am

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 25.

Tonight

Snow likely, mainly after 9 pm. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. 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 packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 38 trails have been groomed for today, including Drifter, Catwalk, Ruthie’s, Evaporator, Snow Snake, Thomke’s Express, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 148 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

New Snow

We received a dusting to an inch of new snow overnight making our season total 314 inches.

Events

Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline today from 11 am till 2 pm. Find out who’s the fastest in your family.

Black Bear Apres Sport Party today in the Black Bear Tavern. Entertainment begins at 2 pm with Jammin’ Sam playing guitar and singing.

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Snowmaking in progress

Posted January 14, 2019 at 2:02 pm

Meadowlark

We are presently making snow Lower FIS, Link to Sterling, and Meadowlark. Lower FIS is closed today for snowmaking, so that we can build the Flowground in the near future. The Flowground will have subtle terrain features like rolls, berms, and banks. These features are perfect for preparing intermediate skiers and riders for more challenging terrain. Snowmaking continues tonight on Lower FIS, Lower Madonna Liftline, Link to Rumrunner, Snake Bite, and the Zone.

Land guns and Tower guns on Lower FIS

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 75 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 34 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 136 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches.

Snowmaking piles are getting big on Lower FIS

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 12 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 1 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees.

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Good morning

Posted January 14, 2019 at 7:51 am

Early morning light over the Village

Lifts and Trails

Today 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 75 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 33 trails have been groomed for today, including McPherson’s, Hibernator, and Black Snake for a grand total of 131 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Lower Hangman’s was groomed last night from Upper Exhibition down to Treasure Run. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches.

Weather

We have a temperature inversion this morning. It is warmer at the top than it is at the bottom. Currently it is 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with beautiful sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 14 and 24 degrees. The sun will work its magic and the temperature should rise quickly.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Link to Sterling, Lower FIS, and skier’s right of Lower Madonna Liftline. Snowmaking continues on Lower FIS today, so it will be closed for the day along with Norwegian Woods.