Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

0

Going back a few years

Posted March 18, 2019 at 4:13 pm

Smugglers’ Notch Ski Ways

Smugglers’ Notch Ski Ways opened in December 1956 on Sterling Mountain. Black Snake, Rum Runner, Hangman’s Noose, and the Practice Area were some of the original trails. Tom Watson Jr. renamed Smugglers’ Notch Ski Ways to Madonna Mountain in 1964.

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 65 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 20 to 50 inches. We plan to groom 41 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Evaporator, Wanderer, McPherson’s, Chute, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 153 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Madonna Mountain

Weather

Currently it is 20 degrees with beautiful sunny skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 12 and 28 degrees.

0

Another beautiful day here at Smuggs

Posted March 18, 2019 at 9:19 am

Skiing Garden Path with Mount Mansfield in the background

Lifts and Trails

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 65 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 20 to 50 inches. 40 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Bootlegger for a grand total of 152 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Upper FIS was also groomed from the Doc Dempsey’s cutoff down to Mulcahy’s Link.

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 12 and 28 degrees.

0

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Posted March 17, 2019 at 5:03 pm

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 58 trails with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 20 to 50 inches. We plan to groom 38 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 152 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

New Snow

We received 5 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 20 inches in the past week, and 345 inches this season so far.

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 11 and 29 degrees.

0

Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains

Posted March 15, 2019 at 2:43 pm

Upper FIS

Lifts and Trails

Our current weather forecast calls for today’s warm temperatures to begin falling this evening to near or slightly below freezing by 8 am Saturday. Temps will warm into the mid to upper 30s during the day. Today’s wet snow will likely become rather firm tomorrow. In order for us to provide the best skiing and riding surfaces possible, we will be delaying our upper mountain lift openings to allow for some last minute grooming. There is also the possibility of some early morning snow showers that will help improve conditions.

Coming up with a plan

Our anticipated lift opening schedule on Saturday will be as follows:

Village Lift – 8:00 am

Sterling, Mogul Mouse, Morse Highlands, and Sir Henry’s lifts – 9:00 am

Madonna I & II lifts – 10:00 am

All lift opening times assume we are not experiencing any wind delays, which does not look likely at this time. Lift crews will be in place to open upper mountain lifts earlier if conditions allow.

The George Tormey race will be held on the Practice Slope with first run starting at 9:30 am. T-bar will commence operating at 7:30 am for race crew and coaches and for athletes at 8:15 am.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 65 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 20 t0 50 inches. We plan to groom 40 trails, including Goat Path, Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, Dixie’s Knoll, Black Snake, and Treasure Run for a grand total of 149 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Sterling Mountain seen from the Madonna I Lift

Weather

Currently it is partly cloudy and 44 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is cloudy skies with a chance of scattered snow showers and an inch of accumulation possible with temperatures between 18 and 35 degrees.

Events

We have too many events this weekend to list! For all the details just go to our events page.

0

It is going to be another beautiful day

Posted March 13, 2019 at 6:42 am

Morning light over the Village

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. Today we 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. Black Hole, Freefall, and Madonna Liftline are open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 43 trails have been groomed for today, including Catwalk, Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, Log Jam, Hangman’s Drop, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 154 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with bluebird skies and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies early with increasing clouds and temperatures between 20 and 35 degrees.

0

Penguins can’t fly, but they ski with a smile

Posted March 11, 2019 at 3:53 pm

New Snow

We received 3 to 4 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 7 inches in the past 2 days, and 329 inches this season so far!

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. The Black Hole, Freefall, and Madonna Liftline are open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 42 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Playground, Snow Snake, Wanderer, Thomke’s, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 156 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is snowing and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of a snow shower early then partly sunny skies later with temperatures between 12 and 27 degrees.

0

Bluebird skies

Posted March 9, 2019 at 9:03 am

Lower Morse Liftline

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. 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 powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 35 trails have been groomed for today, including Drifter, Ruthie’s, Bootlegger, Sam’s Run, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with beautiful sunny skies and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 15 and 28 degrees.

0

100 percent open

Posted March 8, 2019 at 4:30 pm

Tony enjoying some nice snow in the woods

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 35 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Bootlegger, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Jay Tisbert and Jeff Spring just after loading the Sterling Lift. Off to make some turns on this beautiful day!

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 15 and 28 degrees.

Events

This weekend we have our Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline from 11 am till 2 pm.

Saturday we have Grass Sticks bamboo pole demo in front of the Base Lodge

This is Don who has been skiing for 63 years! He bought his ski boots back in 1966, they were new and still wears them today.

Sunday Molly Fund Rail Jam at the Zone Terrain Park

0

Fresh snow

Posted March 4, 2019 at 8:00 am

Cleaning off the chairs of the Village Lift

New Snow

We received 1 to 3 inches of new snow overnight making our season total 317 inches.

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open! Today we 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 powder and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 36 trails have been groomed for today, including Ruthie’s, Gary B’s, Dixie’s Knoll, Curley’s Cutback, and Thomke’s Express for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is cloudy and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for a chance of light snow early then partly sunny skies later with temperatures between 17 and 26 degrees.

0

Snow in the forecast

Posted March 3, 2019 at 7:27 am

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 25.

Tonight

Snow likely, mainly after 9 pm. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open. Today we plan to 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. 38 trails have been groomed for today, including Drifter, Catwalk, Ruthie’s, Evaporator, Snow Snake, Thomke’s Express, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 148 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

New Snow

We received a dusting to an inch of new snow overnight making our season total 314 inches.

Events

Free Family Fun Race on Lower Madonna Liftline today from 11 am till 2 pm. Find out who’s the fastest in your family.

Black Bear Apres Sport Party today in the Black Bear Tavern. Entertainment begins at 2 pm with Jammin’ Sam playing guitar and singing.