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More Snow. More Trails.

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. 100% of the trails on Madonna and Sterling Mountains were open today, and all but three on Morse, making a grand total of 75 of 78 trails!! 6″ of new snow overnight and 20″ in the past 5 days will do that. Tomorrow, we expect a similar trail count. I enjoyed runs on Upper Chilcoot, Goat Path, and Lower FIS with the Allman Brothers’ Blue Sky in the earbuds.

NOTE: Uphill access on Morse will be closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights due to snowmaking.

All of these trails were open today!
Lower Doc’s. Photo by Seth Crevison.
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Fantastic day on the slopes

I skied on all 3 mountains today. I was lucky enough to be on Madonna Mountain when patrol started dropping the ropes. I was riding the Madonna I Lift, and just as I passed mid-station, I could see someone on the Headwall. Once I got closer, I realized that it was patroller Jason Nemo, and he was ripping up the skier’s left side. It looked really good, and I was hoping that patrol would open it up. Just then, I got a text from Patrol telling me that Madonna Liftline, Black Hole, and Freefall from the Traverse were all opening. I got to the top, took an immediate right turn around the top shack, and headed down Liftline. Ski Patroller Alissa was dropping the rope at Catwalk just as I got there. I got a few fresh turns in, and then I took some photos of the skiers and riders in the fresh snow as they passed me. It was only a few people, and I still found some fresh turns as I skied down to the Robin’s Run work road. The skiers and riders in front of me did not go down the Headwall, so I did. I got the skier’s right side of the Headwall fresh! I then continued down Liftline for a true “shack-to-shack” run. I got to the bottom and jumped right back on the Madonna I Lift. I ran into Ski Patroller Ethan at the summit of Madonna; he was headed to drop the rope on Sally’s Alley and invited me to join him. We then took the traverse over to Freefall from Upper FIS. Ethan took the left side, and I took the right. The new snow was skiing fantastic! Tomorrow, 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 73 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including McPherson’s, Midway, and Snake Bite, for a total of 112 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 40 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for a chance of freezing drizzle becoming drizzle with a high of 35 degrees at the base and 33 degrees at higher elevations.

Ski Patrol Assistant Director Ethan Costello on Freefall
Upper Madonna Liftline
Snowmaking operations on Log Jam, Dixie’s Knoll, and Hibernator last night
Patroller Alissa dropping ropes on Madonna Mountain
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Jeezum Crow, we’ve got SNOW!

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. 4 inches of new snow overnight and 17 inches in the past 2 days! We have 22 trails open with terrain for all abilities. 9 trails have been groomed, including Smugglers’ Alley. Uphill Access is limited to Madonna Mountain only.

All welcome!
More signs of WELCOME.
View of the Village – it looks like a fairytale town.
An attempt at an artistic shot – looking down Treasures driveway.
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Fluctuations

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.

Exhibiting on Upper Exhibition.
View of Rumrunners’ Hideaway, the Village, and the valley beyond, from Thomke’s Express.
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Another gorgeous day on the slopes

Snow Sport University Training Manager Greg Fatigate having fun on Upper FIS
Panoramic from Madonna Mountain
Hayleigh enjoying the dry snow on Upper FIS
Shadow dancing

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.

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Sunday fun day

Sundog seen from the base of Madonna Mountain
Upper FIS with Midway and the Village in the background

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.

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Grooming operations

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.

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Snow-eating Grins

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!

Snow-eating grin on Seth on his behind on Upper FIS.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Reservations aka Reso (like Lizzo, but different). L to R: Janet, Heidi, Luz, Maria, and Kristy.
Smuggs TV Cameraman and Producer Nick on Upper FIS.
Upright Seth on Upper FIS.
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Wind chill we chill

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.