Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Predicted snowfall increases

Posted March 4, 2021 at 5:15 pm

The forecast now says that we could see 3 to 7 inches of new snow tonight. Tomorrow’s forecast is also snow with another 3 to 7 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 14 degrees. We could see an additional 1 to 3 inches of new snow on Friday night. Tomorrow we plan to have 5 lifts operating, Madonna I, Madonna II, Village, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, and Sir Henry’s Glider. The Sterling Lift will be closed tomorrow March 5th for a mechanical repair. We have 54 skiable trails and 38 lift accessible trails open tomorrow. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 50 inches. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Drifter, Upper FIS, Snow Snake, and Lower Rumrunner for a grand total of 121 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently it is partly sunny and 5 degrees at the summit of Sterling.

Ski Patroller Robert Stuart wonders how much snow will we get?

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I Lift

Private snowboard lesson on Lower Morse Liftline

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Good morning

Posted February 25, 2021 at 7:41 am

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We received 3 to 4 inches of new snow overnight and 18 inches in the past 6 days. Currently it is cloudy and 16 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 24 degrees. Temperatures will be falling throughout the day. We have 72 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with base depths of 16 to 50 inches.

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124 acres of freshly groomed terrain

Posted February 22, 2021 at 6:44 am

Today 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 71 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 16 to 50 inches. 32 trails have been groomed for today, including Goat Path, Curley’s Cutback, and Jolly Rodger. Currently, it is snowing and 12 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 31 degrees and breezy.

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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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Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains

Posted February 11, 2021 at 4:38 pm

3 Mountain ticket sales are closed for Sunday, February 14th. We have reached our comfortable capacity.

Tomorrow we plan to have 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 72 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with base depths of 16 to 50 inches. Snowmaking resumes tonight on Sterling Mountain. 29 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including McPherson’s, Snow Snake, and Jolly Rodger for a grand total of 117 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly sunny and 4 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 11 degrees.

Employees are red-flagged for this weekend. They can ski or ride on the all mountains from 8:00 am till 10:00 am.

Uphill travel closed on Sterling Mountain Friday, February 12th due to snowmaking. Uphill travel open on Madonna Mountain is available from 5:30 am till 7:30 am on open trails only and no dogs.

Sterling Mountain seen from the Village Lift

Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 3 jumps, 2 rails, and a spine.

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Grooming and Snowmaking

Posted February 9, 2021 at 7:06 am

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Our Groomers and Snowmakers never sleep… at least at this time of day at this time of year.

Here’s today’s report in brief: Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. 70 trails and 5 lifts including M1. 102 acres of freshly groomed terrain. 22 inches of new snow in the past week. Snowmaking on Morse Mountain. Lower Morse Liftline is open on skiers left.

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More terrain opens

Posted December 21, 2020 at 8:49 am

Lower Morse Liftline is now open from Mogul Mouse’s mid-station. Currently it is cloudy and 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a high of 34 degrees. Today we have the Sterling Lift, Sir Henry’s Glider, and Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift open to mid-station. We have 5 intermediate trails, 4 beginner trails, and 1 expert trail open today. All 10 trails have been groomed for today; that’s 38 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and loose granular with average base depths of 18 to 40 inches.

Uphill travel will be allowed Tuesday through Thursday morning from 5:30 am till 7:30 am on Sterling snowmaking trails. You must be off the mountain by 8:00 am. Please park in Lot #3. Stay tuned for more uphill travel information.

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Freshly groomed terrain

Posted March 15, 2020 at 7:24 am

Today we have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. The Madonna I lift will not open today. In the case of a lift evacuation, the icy surface on Madonna Liftline would make it hard to get the skiers and rider off the mountain safely. Thank you for your understanding. We have 7 lifts operating and 35 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 14 to 52 inches. All 35 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 138 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is 11 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for a chance of flurries early then mostly sunny skies with a high of 30 degrees. We plan to open the Madonna II Lift at 9 am. You can skin or hike from the top of the Madonna II Lift if you would like. Groomed terrain will be the best skiing and riding today.

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Morning groom

Posted March 11, 2020 at 6:47 am

The temperature fell throughout the night. We had to wait for the temperature to drop below freezing to groom. Our groomers are finishing up Morse Mountain and we plan to open on time. Our groomers will be headed to Madonna and Sterling Mountain next. We plan to have Madonna and Sterling Mountain open soon. Ski Patrol is presently checking trail conditions on Madonna. This report will be updated as soon as possible. Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 14 to 52 inches. Currently it is cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a high of 34 degrees.

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32 inches of new snow in the past 3 days!

Posted February 29, 2020 at 7:51 am

**Groomers on Lower Morse Liftline packing down the 12 inches of new snow that we received in the past 24 hours.**

Today 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 powder and packed powder with average base depths of 20 to 60 inches. 33 trails have been groomed for today, including Snow Snake, Drifter, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 138 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is snowing and 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers and a high of 21 degrees. Enjoy the fantastic conditions!

The Extreme Challenge is this weekend on Madonna Liftline! The Headwall and mid-station down to the groomed section of Lower Madonna Liftline will be closed this weekend for the competition. You can see the action from the Madonna I Lift. This weekend is going to gnarly!