Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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156 acres of freshly groomed terrain

Posted March 2, 2019 at 7:56 am

Groomers headed back up Meadowlark after finishing Lower Morse Liftine

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. Today we 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. 46 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, Hibernator, Bootlegger, Chute, Hangman’s Drop, and Smugglers’ Alley.

Weather

Currently it is 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly cloudy skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with a chance of light snow later in the day and temperatures between 22 and 30 degrees.

Events

Smugglers’ Notch Extreme Challenge is today on Madonna Liftline just below mid-station. This year for the first time snowboarders will be competing. There is 120 competitors signed up for the event! Spectators are welcome. You can watch from the edge of 3 Mountain Glades, just above the intersection of Madonna Liftine and Link, or the best seat in the house will be the Madonna I Lift as you ride right over all the action.

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

Black Bear Apres Sport Party this weekend draft specials featuring the Shed.

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Sunshine and 160 acres of freshly groomed terrain

Posted February 11, 2019 at 11:04 am

Picture perfect

I want to thank our grooming staff, snowmakers, and lift maintenance for all they do to provide us with the best conditions possible! Our grooming staff is out on the mountain from the time the lifts close until they reopen the next day. We even have two shifts of groomers each night to get all 3 mountains ready for your skiing and riding pleasure the next day. Our snowmakers have recently been touching up Garden Path, Lower Morse Liftline, Magic Learning Trail, and Meadowlark. The Lift Maintenance Crew provides us safe transportation to the top of all 3 mountains. Each lift is checked every morning before anyone is allowed to load the lift.

Circumhorizontal arc is formed by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.

Lower Doc Dempsey’s Glades has one cat wide of groomed terrain on skier’s left

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Sunset from the top of Madonna

Posted February 10, 2019 at 7:51 am

This photo was taken last night on the Cat Trax Express Evening Upper Mountain Tour. There was not a cloud in the sky with amazing views in every direction! We could easily see Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks in New York, and the Presidential Range in New Hampshire.

Lifts and Trails

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 47 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 20 to 50 inches. 46 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 165 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Meadowlark.

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 2 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 15 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 6 and 20 degrees.

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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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Freefall, Waterfall, Snowfall

Posted January 8, 2019 at 5:31 pm

Freefall as viewed from Waterfall

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. At midday, Madonna I came off wind hold, so I had to grab me some runs up there. My last run was from the top of the mountain back to the Village, like so: Upper Chilcoot > Mulcahy’s Link > Ruthies > Curley’s > Meadowlark. That’s 2,164 feet of vertical and 3 miles of trails, if you’re counting.

I had to stop and see some of my friends in Reservations aka Reso. They are one of the behind-the-scenes departments that keep the Resort going.

SNOW

4″ new snow in the past 24 hours and 16″ in the past week. Snow is in the forecast for most of the week, and I hear that there is an “Upslope” Snow Event that we are well situated for. I’m not sure what that means other than we could get pounded with more snow!

Some of our Reso staff, L to R: Amanda, Kendall, Max, and Kristy. If you booked your trip on the phone, you may have spoke to one of them.

LIFTS & TRAILS

For Wednesday, we plan to have 6 lifts operating including Madonna I, and 71 trails open. 29 trails/118 acres are scheduled to be groomed for tomorrow.

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It is going to be a beautiful day and more terrain just opened

Posted January 4, 2019 at 8:55 am

Nice morning light

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna 1 lift

Lifts and Trails

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts. We now have 56 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 32 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Curley’s Cutback, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 127 acres of freshly groomed terrain. I just skied Upper Chilcoot, Ruthie’s, Curley’s Cutback, and Meadowlark. The new snow that we received recently mixed in with the existing snow made for some very nice corduroy turns this morning. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches.

Weather

Currently it is 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling with partly sunny skies and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast calling for partly cloudy skies early with increasing sunshine and temperatures between 23 and 36 degrees.

The Madonna 1 lift

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Snow in the forecast for tomorrow

Posted December 28, 2018 at 7:16 am

The Forecast from the National Weather Service

Today

Freezing rain before 11 am, then rain. High near 40.

Tonight

Rain likely before 3 am, then rain and snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday

Snow showers likely, mainly before 10 am. Patchy dense freezing fog after noon. Mostly cloudy, with temperatures falling to around 13 by5 pmm. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

New Snow

We received 1 to 2 inches of new snow overnight and 12 inches in the past week. The new snow that we received last night is going to make big difference.

Lifts and Trails

The Madonna I Lift, Madonna II Lift, and Village Lift are presently on wind hold. Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift and Sterling Lift are now loading. The Sterling T-Bar will open today at 10 am. Morse Highlands Lift is now open. We have 25 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 22 trails have been groomed for today, that’s a grand total of 96 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Meadowlark and Lower Chilcoot. We plan to resume snowmaking on Saturday night.

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Winter Wonderland

Posted December 27, 2018 at 5:26 pm

Dominic taking in the views from the summit of Madonna for the first time. The Presidential Range in New Hampshire is seen in the distance to his left.

New Snow

We received 2 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 10 inches in the past 6 days, and 139 inches this season so far.

Snowmaking

We are presently making snow on Meadowlark and Lower Chilcoot. Snowmaking will continue on these two trails tonight.

Lifts and Trails

Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 30 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Lower FIS, Curley’s Cutback, and Black Snake for a grand total of 108 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Summit of Madonna Mountain

Weather

Currently it is partly cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of freezing rain from around 7 am till 11 am, then a chance of rain after 11 am with temperatures between 27 and 40 degrees. Temperatures will increase throughout the day tomorrow.

Snowmaking continues on Lower Chilcoot

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I lift

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Getting the mountains ready for you to ski or ride

Posted December 27, 2018 at 7:57 am

New snow being cleared from the ramp of the Village Lift

More Open Terrain

Full Nelson and Highlander Glades are now open. Rumor has it that the skier’s left side of Full Nelson is pretty nice.

New Snow

We received 1 to 2 inches of light fluffy snow overnight, 10 inches in the past 6 days, and 139 inches this season so far!

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 29 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails have been groomed for today including Black Snake, Sam’s Run, and Waterfall for a grand total of 109 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Groomer Dickie Guyette laying down some fresh corduroy on Meadowlark

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Lower Chilcoot and Meadowlark. Snowmaking will continue today on Lower Chilcoot. There are still a few snow guns running on Meadowlark this morning.

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for sunny skies with increasing clouds and temperatures between 12 and 24 degrees.

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Mountains of adventure and mountains of fun

Posted December 26, 2018 at 5:19 pm

Treasure Run

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 29 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Upper Chilcoot, and Log Jam for a grand total of 109 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Thomke’s

Snowmaking

Today our snowmakers were busy on Lower Chilcoot and Meadowlark. Tonight they plan to continue snowmaking on these two trails.

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 16 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for sunny skies early with increasing clouds later in the day with temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees.

360 in Birch Run Terrain Park

Snow

We received a dusting of new snow this morning, 8 inches in the past 5 days, and 137 inches this season so far!

Old School Daffy