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Calm before storm

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from Madonna
Skier on Upper Drifter
Upper Chilcoot and Mount Mansfield seen at the top of Catwalk
Last run on Morse Mountain

It was absolutely beautiful today with sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake were all groomed last night. I skied Upper FIS and Smugglers’ Alley this morning. I snowboarded Snow Snake this afternoon. The conditions are great and they are going to get even better. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers of 3 to 5 inches. Tomorrow’s forecast is more snow another 1 to 3 inches of accumulation is possible with a high of 37 degrees at the base and 30 degrees at higher elevations. 34 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Chilcoot, Rumrunner, and Garden Path for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 8 to 32 inches. Currently, it is partly sunny and 32 degrees at the summit of Sterling.

The Nordic Center is open with 15 km of snowshoeing and 17 km of cross-country trails. The ice rink is presently closed.

This weekend the featured beer for the apres sports parties at Bootlegger’s and the Black Bear Tavern is Pabst Blue Ribbon.

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Calm before the storm

Madonna, Sterling, and Mount Mansfield seen from the Village Lift
Long time Ski Instructor Larry Arnold with his class on Lower Morse Liftline
The “Usual Spot” on Upper Rumrunner with the Sterling Lift in the background
The view from Midway

I met Nick Anastasi from Smuggs TV this morning at the Village Lift. We did a three-mountain tour for this week’s No Bull Video Snow Report. We took Midway to the upper mountains and headed for the Sterling Lift. Smugglers’ Alley was groomed last night, so we made a left turn as we unloaded the Sterling Lift. The Alley was fun and flat. We then did a nice cruiser down Lower Rumrunner. It was nice riding your edges in the fresh corduroy. On our next run, we did Upper Rumrunner and then jumped into the Highlander Glades for some tree skiing. It was then time to let our skis roll down Treasure Run and Lower Exhibition. We then headed for the Madonna II Lift. We had a blast cruising down Lower Chilcoot. I love the turns and contours, and there is plenty of room to make some nice GS turns. The snow that we are expected to get tonight and tomorrow will freshen things up nicely. Last night we made snow on Upper Chilcoot and Waterfall. We are planning to make snow again on Upper Chilcoot tomorrow and then open the Madonna I Lift on Sunday. The Madonna II Lift will open at 8:30 am on Saturday and Sunday. Currently, it is cloudy and 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 4 to 8 inches of accumulation possible on top. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for more snow showers with another 2 to 4 inches of new snow possible on top with a high of 31 degrees at the base and 26 degrees at the summit. Tomorrow we plan to have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. We plan to have the Madonna II Lift, Sterling Lift, Village Lift, Morse Highlands Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider all operating. We will have 37 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 20 out of the 37 open trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Black Snake, Wanderer, and Lower FIS for a grand total of 96 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine-groomed and variable with average base depths of 6 to 24 inches.

This weekend the featured beer for the apres sports parties at Bootlegger’s and the Black Bear Tavern is Labatts.

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Great day on the mountain

Sterling Pond with Mount Mansfield in the background
Heelside carve on Lower Morse Liftline
Thomke’s Express with clouds in the valley
Sterling summit
View from Midway

The day started with all 3 mountains covered in clouds. It did not take long before the sun burned the clouds off and we had bluebird skies. I skied over to Sterling from the top of the Village Lift this morning and the views were amazing. I spent some time on top of Sterling soaking in the beautiful sunshine and views. The clouds in the valley looked like water and the mountains were islands. Tomorrow we plan to have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with the Madonna II Lift, Sterling Lift, Village Lift, Morse Highlands Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We now have 33 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 18 out of the 33 open trails will be groomed for tomorrow for a grand total of 81 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We are presently making snow on Lower FIS, Lower Madonna Liftline, and Mulcahy’s Link. Tonight and tomorrow we plan to move the snowmaking operations over to Birch Run and Lower Rumrunner. Birch Run and Lower Rumrunner will be closed tomorrow due to snowmaking operations. Surface conditions are machine-groomed and variable with average base depths of 6 to 24 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is partly sunny skies with a slight chance of a snow shower. There will be a temperature inversion tomorrow. The high temperature for the summit of Sterling is 31 degrees and the high temperature for the base area is 23 degrees. This is one of the reasons that we will be making snow tomorrow on Birch Run and Lower Rumrunner.

Uphill travel is open on Morse Mountain from 5 pm to 10 pm Friday through Wednesday. Morse Mountain is closed Thursday evenings due to fireworks and Cat Trax Tours.

Madonna and Sterling are presently closed to uphill travel until we have more trails open. Stay tuned for updates.

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Closing date is Sunday, April 11th weather dependent

The Sterling Lift will be open Tuesday through Friday. The Madonna I Lift and Sterling Lift may be open this closing weekend. We have 13 trails open for Tuesday with terrain for intermediates and experts only. We have no lift-serviced beginner terrain open. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 0 to 44 inches. 10 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Black Snake, Birch Run, and Treasure Run for a grand total of 39 acres of freshly groomed terrain. It is currently sunny and 38 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 53 degrees at the base and 44 degrees in the upper elevations.

Uphill traffic:

Morse Mountain now open daily.

Madonna Mountain open Monday through Thursday.

Sterling Mountain open daily 5:30 am to 7:30 am and 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Sterling Pond with Mount Mansfield in the background
This outfit screams spring!
Harvesting the corn on Black Snake
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Calm before the storm

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for periods of snow 5 to 9 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 34 degrees and falling throughout the day. Tomorrow night’s forecast is also calling for snow with another 1 to 3 inches possible. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We plan to have 25 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions will be variable and machine groomed with average base depths of 10 to 44 inches. 7 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Garden Path and Lower Morse Liftline for a grand total of 31 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I Lift
Upper FIS
Lower Exhibition
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Snowmaking, sunshine, and great conditions

We are presently making snow on Log Jam, Sam’s Run, and Dixie’s Knoll. Sam’s Run will be closed on Monday for snowmaking operations. 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 now have 71 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with base depths of 14 to 46 inches. 25 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Curley’s Cutback, and McPherson’s for a grand total of 101 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently it is sunny and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 1 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is mostly sunny skies with a high of 26 degrees.

Dixie’s Knoll
Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from Robin’s Run
Upper Morse Liftline
Upper Drifter
Fresh tracks
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Tuesday, March 17th will be the last day of the 2019 / 2020 Winter Season

Summit of Sterling with Mount Mansfield in the background

Tomorrow we plan to have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. The Madonna I Lift will not operate tomorrow due to icing. We plan to have 4 lifts operating tomorrow; Sterling, Village, Madonna II, and Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet. We plan to have 32 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 14 to 52 inches. 29 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Goat Path, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 112 acres of freshly groomed terrain. The Riglet Park, Birch Run Terrain Park and Upper Zone will all be open tomorrow. The forecast for tomorrow is snow on top with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible, then mix at the base and a high of 42 degrees.