Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. We started out with 29 trails this morning and that count fluctuated as conditions softened and nearly all the trails on Madonna and Sterling Mountains opened, for a total of 62. I hate to be Debbie Downer or Donnie Darko, but that trail count will again fluctuate, due to the expected freezing rain and wintry mix tonight and into Wednesday. You definitely want to check back for updates. The word of the day – Fluctuations.
The sun was out in force today with temperatures rising over 20 degrees. The snow stayed dry up high on Madonna and it was spring conditions everywhere else. We have the deepest snow base depths of the season along with milder temperatures for your skiing and riding pleasure. I had a blast today on Upper FIS, Lower Doc’s, Ruthie’s, Snake Bite, Chilcoot, and Black Snake. I went skiing with Nick Anastasi of Smuggs TV this morning. We did a three-mountain tour while filming this week’s No Bull Video Snow Report. This afternoon my daughter Hayleigh and I headed for Madonna Mountain for some after-school runs. We did Upper FIS to Lower Doc’s on our first run. The snow was nice and dry on Upper FIS. As soon as we got into Lower Doc’s the snow was soft the rest of the way down. We had so much that we just had to do it again. Usually, I would be back at my office by 3:30 pm to do the night report, but it was too nice out and we skied till the lifts closed.
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 76 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 35 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Upper FIS will be groomed on the skier’s right half from Catwalk down to Dan’s Ford. We also plan to groom the lower half of Shuttle. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. Currently, it is sunny and 39 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of rain with a high of 43 degrees at the base and 39 degrees at higher elevations.
I want to give a shout-out to our grooming staff. They have been grooming many trails for our skiing and riding pleasure. Some natural snow trails like Thomke’s, Jolly Rodger, Upper Drifter, Lower Drifter, and Goat Path were done last night. Tonight they will attack more natural snow trails like Lower Pipeline and Thomke’s. Tonight they will also groom 33 snowmaking trails, like Upper FIS, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 133 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 have 43 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine-groomed and variable with average base depths of 8 to 30 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a mix at the base, with snow on top and 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 39 degrees at the base and 33 degrees at the summit.
The Madonna 2 Lift will open at 9:30 am. The Madonna 1 Lift is closed for today. We have 6 lifts operating with 23 trails open. Currently, it is 21 degrees at the summit of Sterling with freezing rain and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast calls for sleet and freezing rain becoming snow with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 34 degrees. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 8 to 30 inches.
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Valentine’s Day brought some sweet powder and warm temps. 4 inches of new snow fell on top of Madonna Mountain overnight and temps were between 25-30 degrees. Seth “Carv-ison” and I met at the Base Lodge to take runs on Madonna and Sterling. I was able to introduce him to Highlander Glades, Poachers Woods, Upper Pipeline, and Gary B’s – trails he’d never been on. We ran into Nick from Smuggs TV and took the classic Upper FIS to Lower Doc’s run. What a day to play in the powder! Plenty o’ snow and plenty o’ grins!
Due to the forecasted extreme cold temperatures for Friday, February 3rd, Smugglers’ has made the decision to cease mountain operations for the safety of our guests and staff. Wind chills are expected to hit a low of -40 degrees on the mountain.
At this time, we are expecting Saturday, February 4th mountain operations to be impacted as well. For this reason, we have decided to limit operations on Madonna & Sterling Mountains. Additional delays may occur for Morse Mountain Operations. Please visit our Snow Report for the most up-to-date information.
All Snow Sport University lessons and camp programs scheduled for Friday, 2/3 have been canceled as well as morning programs for Saturday, 2/4.
If you have purchased lift tickets in advance we will extend a voucher of equal value to a specific date within the Winter 22/23 Ski & Ride Season. To transfer your lift ticket, please email our Ski & Ride team at ski-ride@smuggs.com or reply to this email and allow 48 hours for processing. Lift tickets will remain valid for Saturday if you choose to brave the elements! Please note, you will not be allowed on the lift if any skin is showing.
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. 3 inches of snow overnight, and can you believe this… 23 inches in the past 6 days! Plus our snowmakers have been busy on Sterling and Madonna mountains. They move to Morse Mountain tomorrow on Curley’s Cutback, Log Jam, and Hibernator – all 3 of those trails will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
I got to make some turns today with Seth Crevison (aka Carv-ison) of the activities department. We enjoyed the fresh powder, even if it was a little sticky due to cold temps. He told me he’d never been on Shuttle (the trail that connects Drifter to Crossover and Lower Rumrunner), so we had to hit the bumps on those rolling slopes. We saw Adam Howard aka Howie, Editor of Backcountry Magazine on Upper Drifter. From the Madonna I Lift, Seth and I spotted our Snow Reporter Hugh Johnson dropping into Freefall. To quote Hugh “another beautiful day on the mountain!”
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Got my first turns of the season on Upper Chilcoot. It’s easy to forget that there is almost always more snow, usually a lot more, at the top of the mountain. It may not be snowing in your backyard, but we’ve got our share up here and more is on the way. We received 1-2 inches today. The forecast for Wednesday into Thursday is 8-15 inches of SNOW! Can you say woo-hoo?
We plan to be making snow on Upper FIS tomorrow during the day. This may cause visibility issues and Upper FIS may have to close. Just wanted to give you a heads up, but we will have to wait until tomorrow to see. No pun intended.
It was another great day of spring skiing and riding today. Tomorrow is the first day of spring, but it will feel more like the return of winter. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible on top. Tomorrow’s forecast is cloudy skies with a chance of a snow shower and a high of 38 degrees at the base and 30 degrees at higher elevations. Madonna Mountain will be closed tomorrow for grooming operations and we plan to have it open again on Tuesday. Tomorrow we plan to have 5 lifts operating; Sterling, Village, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, Morse Highlands, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We have 29 trails open tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. 21 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Garden Path, Curley’s Cutback, and Black Snake for a grand total of 90 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 6 to 40 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 3 jumps and 6 rails. Currently, it is 29 degrees at the summit of Madonna with light snow and winds of 10 to 15 mph.
Uphill Travel
All 3 mountains are presently closed to uphill travel.
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Good Morning Riders and Skiers! Today’s forecast is partly sunny and breezy, with freezing rain after 2 pm, and a high near 34 degrees. We plan to have 8 lifts operating and 47 trails open. 31 trails totaling 128 acres, have been or are about to be groomed. See you on the slopes.
