Watching the sunset from the summit of Madonna Mountain.
#smuggslove
Madonna Mountain
Great conditions
The 5 inches of new snow that we received today was nice and dense. It allowed us to open Freefall from the top and the Headwall of Madonna Liftline. My first run of the day was on Smugglers’ Alley. It was groomed early last night, which allowed the snowfall to build up on top of the groomed snow overnight. It was a nice and flat with 4 inches of fresh on top this morning. It was so much fun to float on top of the heavier snow. I had the pleasure of riding the Sterling Lift with a long time Smuggs family member “George of the Jungle.” Thanks George for the great conversation and laughs. This afternoon I ran into my good friend Pat. We had a great time on Thomke’s, Black Snake, Practice Slope, and Snake Bite. We were able to find some great loose powder on the side of the trail to play in. Pat decided to catch some pretty big air on the “neck” of the Practice Slope. His photo is seen above.
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 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 30 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Wanderer, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 125 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We received 5 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 36 inches in the past 5 days. Currently, it is snowing and 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies, flurries and a snow shower with a high of 35 degrees.
Snowmaking is on the move
We plan to shut down snowmaking tonight on Sterling. Our snowmakers are headed to Madonna Mountain. Tonight we plan to make snow on Upper Chilcoot and Waterfall. Black Snake and Practice Slope will be groomed tonight. We plan to have them open for tomorrow. Upper FIS was groomed last night from Catwalk down to Mulcahy’s Link. I would like to thank Grooming Manager Arlo Pouliot for doing a wonderful job winching Upper FIS last night. I skied it and had a blast this morning! 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 69 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Hibernator, Upper Chilcoot, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 112 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly sunny and 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of snow early then rain later with a high of 40 degrees.
Here comes the storm
Today: Snow, mainly after noon. High near 31. The chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow, mainly before 1 am, then snow showers likely after 1 am. Low around 15. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Sunday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 8 am. Cloudy, with a high near 16. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Great conditions
We received 13 inches of new snow in the past 4 days and it has really made a big difference. It has allowed us to open many natural snow-covered trails and it has given new life to the manmade snow. We even have a couple of glade runs open. I would have to say that my favorite two runs of the day were Upper FIS with the snowmaking whales and Smugglers’ Alley with a nice smooth groom. 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 38 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 12 to 48 inches. 22 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley and Waterfall for a grand total of 94 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Last night we made snow Upper FIS. Currently, it is partly sunny and 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of a snow shower late in the day with a high of 37 degrees. There is snow in the forecast for Saturday night with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible!
Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains
Skiing and riding on all 3 mountains
Tomorrow we plan to have 6 lifts operating; Sterling, Madonna II, Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet, Morse Highlands, and the Village Lift. We have 23 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 20 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley and Garden Path for a grand total of 86 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tonight we plan to make snow on Upper Chilcoot. Weather permitting we plan to have the Madonna I Lift open this weekend. Tomorrow we are going to install some features on the lower half of Birch Run Terrain Park and we plan to have it open by the afternoon. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 32 degrees. Happy Holidays!
Snowmaking continues around the clock
100 percent open
Mount Mansfield seen from the summit of Madonna Mountain
Lifts and Trails
We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have all 78 trail open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 145 acres of freshly groomed terrain!
Weather
Currently it is sunny and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Today ‘s forecast is sunny skies with temperatures between 20 and 35 degrees.
Just another day in paradise
Morse Mountain with Madonna Mountain in the background
Lifts and Trails
We are 99 percent open. 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 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. We plan to groom 36 trails tonight, including Upper Pipeline, Drifter, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
New Snow
We received an inch of new snow last night bringing our season total up to 314 inches.
Weather
Currently it is 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of snow early then partly sunny skies later in the day with temperatures between 17 and 26 degrees.