The last day of the 2020 / 2021 Winter season is this Saturday, April 10th. We plan to have Sterling Lift and/or Madonna I Lift operating depending on snow coverage. Today we have the Sterling Lift operating with 12 trails open. We only have intermediate and expert terrain available at this time. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 0 to 38 inches. 8 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, Black Snake, Practice Slope, and Birch Run for a grand total of 39 acres of freshly groomed terrain. It is currently sunny and 41 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 67 degrees at the base and 59 degrees in the upper elevations.
Practice Slope
Making fun of winter
Snow just makes you want to play, it could be skiing, snowboarding, sledding, making a snowman, or making a snow angel. It has a magical power that puts a smile on your face.
This weekend we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains! Tomorrow we plan to have the Sterling Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, Madonna II Lift, Village Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We have 14 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 13 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 58 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches. We are presently making snow on Waterfall, Upper Chilcoot, and Practice Slope. Currently, it is cloudy and 14 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 and a high of 20 degrees.
Bluebird skies
It was another gorgeous day on the slopes! We received an inch of new snow last night and 224 inches this season so far. Our groomers were very busy last night smoothing out 146 acres. I skied Upper FIS first thing this morning and it was wonderful. It was groomed early last night, so the new snow was on top of the groomed snow. The wind had moved the snow around just a bit. It was nice to play in the small drifts. Our groomers are going to be even busier tonight with 41 trails on the list, including Upper FIS, Bootlegger, Snake Bite, Timberrrr, Ruthie’s, and Smugglers’ Alley. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 68 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 16 to 56 inches. Log Jam Terrain Park, Birch Run Terrain Park, and Riglet Park are all open. The Upper Zone is open and also Lower Knight’s Revenge. Currently, it is sunny and 17 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 42 degrees.
Essex Carnival Slalom Race
The Essex High School Carnival is a two-day event. The GS race was yesterday on Snake Bite and Practice Slope. Today’s race is a slalom race on Practice Slope. Stop by and check out all the action!
Another beautiful day
It was so pretty today with the bluebird skies and snow-covered trees. It was a little cold to start the day, but the sun came out and worked its magic. There was also no wind which was nice. The conditions are just fantastic. I skied Upper FIS this morning and it was really nice. There are small bumps with edgeable snow. I also found some great snow in the glades of Poacher’s Woods, Highlander, and Mustache.
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 now have 73 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. Last night we made snow on Log Jam, Hibernator, and Snow Snake. All 3 of these trails will be groomed tonight and we plan to have them open tomorrow. Tonight we plan to make snow on skier’s right of Lower Morse Liftline. It will be groomed early in the morning and we plan to have it open also. 30 trails will be groomed tonight, including McPherson’s, Dixie’s Knoll, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 123 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is sunny and 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 31 degrees.
Racing into the weekend
Today was the Harvey Wesson Memorial Race Series on the Practice Slope. Today’s course was a paneled slalom. I thought I had short enough skis for the tighter turns, but I was not able to make clean carves as I wanted. I still had a great time and I enjoyed watching the racers take on the panel slalom. There is more racing this weekend. Our Free Family Fun Race is tomorrow on Lower Madonna Liftline. On Sunday it is the Vertical Challenge Race on Lower Madonna Liftline. We have many events this weekend. For more information just go to our events page.
Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 49 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 28 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Hibernator, and Playground for a grand total of 125 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly cloudy and 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a slight chance of freezing rain early then sleet and snow later with a high of 32 degrees. There is snow in the forecast for Saturday night with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible.
High School Slalom race on Snake Bite and the Practice Slope
More new snow overnight
Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 41 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 28 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 110 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with an average of 12 to 50 inches. We are presently making snow on the Practice Slope, Playground, McPherson’s, and Upper FIS from Goat Path down to Times Square. Currently, it is partly cloudy and -10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for skies becoming mostly sunny with a high of 6 degrees. Local league races start today on the Practice Slope. Upper Doc Dempsey’s Glades is open from Teigh’s traverse at the top of Upper FIS on skier’s right.
Nice soft conditions
Weather permitting 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 66 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 12 to 48 inches. Trail pick of the day was Upper FIS. 24 trails will be groomed for tomorrow for a grand total of 99 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is cloudy and 35 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for rain with a high of 49 degrees and breezy.
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.