Local high school racers battle it out on Snake Bite and the Practice Slope today. The second run for the girls will begin around 12:30 pm and the second run the boys will begin around 1:00 pm. Stop by and check out all the action. If you are headed back to Parking Lot 1, please look up before crossing the race course to make sure no one is coming.
Snowboarder with a tutu and Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate (aka the author).
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Today wasn’t so pretty but it wasn’t ugly either. Clouds were threatening but they didn’t drop any clear snow. The conditions on Morse were quite enjoyable – Snow Snake was carv-a-licious! It was nice to see groups of Cambridge Elementary School 4th Graders enjoying Winter Wellness lessons.
39 trails, totaling close to 146 acres, are to be groomed for Wednesday. I suggest staying on the groomers – there will plenty of them. BTW – shout out to the Mtn Ops and Grooming crew!
From Snow Snake looking towards Black Snake and Practice Slope.
Pirate’s Ski gear. Thanks to Eli from Patrol for helping me score these skis.
Today’s race is a slalom with 164 racers participating. The race starts part way down Snake Bite and then onto the Practice Slope. This race is action packed and spectators are welcome.
Today’s race is a slalom race which starts at the top of Snake Bite and goes down onto the Practice Slope. The caliber of these skiers is just amazing! These are some of the best racers on the east coast and they are here to take on what ever Smuggs has to offer. Tomorrow’s race is a giant slalom which will begin at the pine tree start on Black Snake, which is near the top of Harvey’s Hideaway. These racers will built up speed on Black Snake before plunging onto the steep pitch of Snake Bite. They will be holding on with all they have to make it around each gate as they work their way down Snake Bite. Spectators are welcome. Black Snake will be closed tomorrow from the top of Harvey’s Hideaway down and Snake Bite will also be closed tomorrow for the race.
Snow flying
It was pretty warm today and some of the natural snow covered trails had to be closed. The snow was just too soft. The temperature fell throughout the day and it started snowing this afternoon. The new snow will help insulate the existing snow as the temperatures get colder tonight. This will help the moisture drain from the snow. This will also allow the existing snow to bond with the new snow. On my last run of the day up Sterling it started snowing at tower 11. It was snowing pretty hard at the top and it was accumulating. We may open more trails throughout the day tomorrow.
It is adding up
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 47 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are variable and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Snow Snake, and Practice Slope for a grand total of 133 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
Lenny having fun on Black Snake
Currently it is snowing and 30 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is snow showers 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with temperatures between 14 and 25 degrees.
Brees through the trees
We received 3 to 4 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 16 inches in the past 6 days, and 159 inches this season so far!
We are presently making snow on Dixie’s Knoll, Sam’s Run, Hibernator, Log Jam, and Snow Snake. We plan to continue snowmaking on Snow Snake and Log Jam tomorrow, so they will be closed for the day.
Snowmaking on Sam’s Run
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 68 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. 28 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Magic Learning Trail, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 120 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
Tele turns on the Practice Slope
Currently it is cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for increasing clouds with temperatures between 4 and 18 degrees. The snowfall event comes in multiple parts, light snow on Tuesday, heavier snow on Wednesday, and scattered snow showers into Thursday. We could see a storm total of over 12 inches by Thursday night.
Lamoille Union High School hosted a slalom race on the Practice Slope today. It snowed must of the day, so the course had to be slipped multiple times. I had a great time watching these talented racers cross block their way down the Practice Slope.
Groomers on Mulcahy’s Link
Last night we made snow on Black Snake, Mulcahy’s Link, Snake Bite, Practice Slope, and Meadowlark. Snowmaking will continue today on these open trails, so if you plan on skiing or riding these trails don’t forget your goggles.
Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 27 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails have been groomed for today, that’s 96 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 36 inches.
Currently it is cloudy and 18 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of light snow this afternoon and temperatures between 19 and 31 degrees.
The Village Lift
Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating. We have 48 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 28 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, Upper Drifter, and Sam’s Run for a grand total of 112 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches.
Currently it is sunny and 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for sunny skies with increasing clouds and temperatures of 24 to 39 degrees.
Last night we made snow on Snake Bite and the Practice Slope.