Madonna I now open
Ski Patrol
Powder Day
We received 6 to 8 inches of snow overnight. It is pretty heavy and perfect for base building. Ski Patrol is busy dropping ropes this morning. We now have 24 trails open with terrain for experts and intermediates. We plan to have beginner terrain open in the near future. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 12 to 36 inches. 6 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, for a total of 25 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
Mountain Moments
Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. I’m not always sure what I’m going to write about when I fill in for Hugh (which is an honor, by the way). However, just getting on the Mountain leads me to stories. Here are my mountain moments from today.
I rode the lift with Reg Vance from Ski Patrol. We reminisced about the recently deceased Patroller Mark Archambault, aka Arch, aka Itchy, aka “can’t be printed here.” Reg even played me a message he got from Arch – and there was that raspy, razzing voice. Chills.
Had a break and a bite to eat at the Black Bear. I met and conversed with the Richels from the Toronto, Ontario area. They like the laid-back, noncommercial, and family feel of Smuggs. On my way out, I saw Jammin’ Sam and some Black Bear regulars… can you say trouble? Sam plays guitar and sings at Sunday’s Black Bear Apres Sports Party.
Drifting down Drifter, I chanced upon a couple attempting tandem snowboarding. Now, that’s the definition of #smuggslove. Then I stopped to talk to a father and his young daughter. She was spooked after she caught some unexpected air on Drifter Extension. I found out later that she rallied and even asked dad to ski the glades.
Taking Meadowlark back to the Village, I spied a strange shape. Was it a skiing Lilliputian or Gnome? No, it was Angelina trying to keep up her speed 😛 I will return next week for some more mountain moments. P.S. There’s a photo of Olivia from Atlanta with Mogul Mouse at last week’s Winter Carnival.
Great day on the slopes
We received 3 inches of new snow overnight, 7 inches in the past 2 days, and 27 inches in the past week. Ski Patrol dropped the ropes on Robin’s Run, Black Bear, Hangman’s Drop, Upper Pipeline, Shakedown, Upper Morse Liftline, and Bermuda. Tonight’s forecast is calling for another 2 to 4 inches of new snow. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including Madonna I and Morse Highlands. We have 75 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 33 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Chilcoot, Snake Bite, and Hibernator for a grand total of 125 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 16 to 50 inches. Birch Run and Knight’s Revenge Terrain Parks are open. Currently, it is partly sunny and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of snow early with an inch of accumulation possible with a high of 12 degrees at the base and 7 degrees at higher elevations. Temperatures will be falling throughout the day. Bundle up and enjoy the wonderful conditions!
Sunshine and corduroy
Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We have 56 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 16 to 56 inches. 39 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Bootlegger, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 150 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is sunny and 24 degrees at the summit of Madonna with winds of 5 to 10 mph.
Gorgeous day
Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 76 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. 30 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 128 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is sunny and 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 40 degrees. Free Family Fun Race tomorrow on Lower Madonna Liftline from 11 am till 2 pm. Find out who is the fastest in your family.
New snow on top overnight
The new snow that we received last night is nice and heavy. This allows the new snow to stick to the existing snow. Ski Patrol has opened many trails this morning due to the new snow; like Black Hole, Upper Madonna Liftline down to the work road, Upper Drifter, Shuttle, Red Fox Glades, and Goat Path. Some of these trails may not be open all day long, so you should hit them up early! Fantastic conditions!
Rime ice
Rime ice is formed when small supercooled water droplets freeze almost instantly on contact with a solid surface. Last night we had high humidity and falling temperatures which lead to the rime ice you see here. The rime ice also built up on the chairlifts and cables overnight. For a while this morning we had to load every other chair on Madonna and Sterling. If there is too much ice on the cable it does not let it grip with the bullwheel liner. To make sure the cable and bullwheel liner do not slip we lighten the load. This allows the cable to warm up and clear itself of ice. I would like to give a shout out to Boder Stephens, Brian Williamson, and the rest of our lift staff for all their effort to get the cable and bullwheels clean. I would like to thank Ski Patrol for lending a helping hand in clearing the chairs of snow and rime ice.
99 percent open
Pete from the Smuggs Nordic Center out having fun on Madonna Mountain
Today was pretty amazing with the fresh snow and sunshine. This morning we had 74 trails open and the only closed trails were our double and triple black diamond. Ski Patrol did some trail checking and then the ropes dropped. We were 100 percent open today. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Upper Madonna Liftline is open from Catwalk down to the Robin’s Run work road. Robin’s Run and the Black Hole are both open. It was a fantastic day filled with powder turns and smiles. I look forward to doing it all over again tomorrow!
New Snow
We received 3 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 15 inches in the past 2 days, and 288 inches this season so far!
Ian from the Village Lift rockin’ the goggles and plaid.
Lifts and Trails
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 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 will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s a grand total of 144 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
Snowmaking
Waterfall will be closed on Friday due to snowmaking.
Great conditions
Weather
Currently it is partly sunny and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible and temperatures between 24 to 38 degrees.
Harvey Wesson Local’s Race
Tomorrow’s race is a single run super G.
Spring conditions
Ski Patroller Chris Heimert enjoying the soft conditions on Black Snake
The mild temperatures today made the snow nice and soft. I had a blast carving up Black Snake and Practice Slope. I love how the Practice Slope is nice and wide so you can lay out some huge GS turns. The knob on skier’s right above mid point of the T-Bar is always fun to fly off.
Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 51 trails with terrain for all ability levels. 38 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly to mostly sunny skies with a high of 26 degrees.