Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

0

55+, plus more…

Posted March 29, 2023 at 1:43 pm

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. To paraphrase Mr. Rogers, “It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” With 71 trails open it was hard to decide what to ski first, but I really enjoyed my “double compression” run of Upper Drifter to Shuttle – that put the wind in me sails. I got to hang out with the 55+ Club, a group of 90 members who are “on the hill, not over the hill.” Club President Liam Kearney invited me to their regular Wednesday breakfast get-together, and to their season-ending lunch and awards ceremony. They’re just like kids with a few wrinkles and gray hair – age is just a number. Then I saw the usual assortment of characters in my travels. I hope your day was on the plus side!

The Legendary Peter Ingvoldstad, former Director of SSU, former Lamoille Union School Board Member, sometime Hulk Hogan Impersonator, Current President of Cambridge Area Rotary, AND… recently-elected Town of Cambridge Select Board Member. He’s a Mensch.

Rusty – one of three Snowboarding Patrollers. He works at our Disc Golf Courses for the rest of the year.

Deborah Pomeroy with 55+ Club President Liam Kearney handing out awards and prizes at the season-end lunch soiree.

Charles – Madonna I mainstay and Reggae Musician, gets ’em loaded.

55+ Club Members Dottie, Charlie, and Bill – ON THE HILL! This is their silly pose.

A Groomer is being winched, to get the pond built for Saturday’s Pond Skimming. Thanks for the photo, Mark Delaney.

0

Cooler temps and snow in the forecast for tomorrow

Posted March 28, 2021 at 3:01 pm

Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow developing late with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible at higher elevations. Tomorrow’s forecast is snow showers and another 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible on top with a high of 35 degrees at the base and a high of 27 degrees on top. The Madonna I Lift will be on wind hold tomorrow Monday, March 29th. Tomorrow we plan to have 3 lifts operating, Sterling, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We plan to have 20 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 10 to 44 inches. 17 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Black Snake, Practice Slope, Curley’s Cutback, and Midway for a grand total of 73 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Some trails may have a delayed opening due to grooming.

Ski Patroller Linda mixes fashion with function

0

Mountains of adventure mountains of fun

Posted March 9, 2021 at 4:58 pm

Tomorrow we plan to have 5 lifts operating, Madonna I, Madonna II, Village, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, and Sir Henry’s Glider. The Sterling Lift will be closed for a few days for a mechanical repair. We have 67 skiable trails and 44 lift-accessible trails open tomorrow. 35 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Shuttle, Ruthie’s, Goat Path, Snow Snake, Howie’s Wanderer, and Lower Rumrunner for a grand total of 123 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 16 to 50 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies a high of 52 degrees. If you park in Parking Lot 1 you can ski or ride back to your vehicle by taking Shuttle, Crossover, Treasure Run, Lower Exhibition, and the Practice Slope.

Sterling Mountain is open during the day to uphill traffic. Please use Parking Lot 1, Practice Slope, old rope tow line, and Black Snake to ascend. There will be downhill traffic on Lower Rumrunner, Treasure Run, and Lower Exhibition.

Employees can ski or ride today.

Madonna Mountain and Sterling Mountain seen from Midway

Patroller John Fontanilles on Upper Drifter

Hayleigh copying Quinn’s move at the Nordic Center

0

Dropping ropes

Posted March 9, 2020 at 10:49 am

**Ski Patroller Mac opening Hangman’s Drop**

We have 70 skiable trails and 60 lift accessible trails open today. The Madonna I lift is presently on wind hold. We have 6 lifts operating: Madonna II, Sterling, Morse Highlands, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, Village, and Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet. Surface conditions are spring conditions and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 56 inches. Currently it is sunny and 47 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Enjoy the sunshine and soft conditions!

0

Another great day on the slopes

Posted February 13, 2020 at 5:00 pm

Ski Patrol dropped a few ropes this morning like the one at the top of Freefall and the one at the top of the Headwall. I felt like I had to go and ski these trails, so I did! Sally’s Alley was also open, so I skied that. The Black Hole was already open, but I also skied that too. We received 1 to 3 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 10 inches in the past 4 days, and 177 inches this season so far. 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 packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. We plan to make snow tonight on Mulcahy’s Link and Lower Madonna Liftline. The Madonna I lift will open tomorrow morning at 9:30 am due to snowmaking and grooming. 34 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Dan’s Ford, Hibernator, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently it is snowing and 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of an early snow showers then skies becoming mostly sunny with a high of 4 degrees. Bundle up and enjoy the great conditions.

0

More new snow

Posted February 10, 2020 at 9:20 am

**Ski Patroller Kristie Sills enjoying the fresh snow**

**Ski Patrol Director Eli Moore trail checking Smugglers’ Alley**

We received 35 inches of new snow in the past 5 days. We are 99 percent open. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating. The Village Lift is presently on wind hold. 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 16 to 54 inches. 34 trails have been groomed for today, including Drifter, Snow Snake, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 134 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is snowing and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 25 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for periods of snow with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 35 degrees and breezy.

0

100 percent open

Posted February 8, 2020 at 8:46 am

This series of photos is Ski Patroller Jeff Wentzel doing trail check on Freefall.

8 inches of new snow overnight, 22 inches in the past 24 hours, and 29 inches in the past 3 days. Today we 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. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Upper Madonna Liftline is open from Catwalk down to Robin’s Run work road. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. The wind moved the snow around last night if you get my drift. 36 trails have been groomed for today, including Snow Snake, Playground, and Jolly Rodger for a grand total of 142 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly sunny and 0 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 1 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 8 degrees. Dress warm and enjoy the amazing conditions!

0

Picture perfect

Posted January 23, 2020 at 9:02 am

**Ski Patroller Ethan Costello enjoying the view from the summit of Madonna**

**Ski Patrol Director Eli Moore on Upper Chilcoot**

It is going to be another beautiful day! Currently, it is sunny and 23 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 45 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. 24 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 115 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Last night we made snow on Curley’s Cutback and Birch Run.

0

Powder Day

Posted January 19, 2020 at 9:07 am

**Ski Patroller Jordan Brown trail checking Upper Madonna Liftline**

**Ski Patroller Mike Stowe goes deep into the new snow**

We received 6 to 8 inches of new snow overnight and 24 inches in the past 5 days. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We now have 57 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 25 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 110 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is still snowing and 21 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for snow showers another 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 22 degrees. Temperatures will be falling throughout the day.

0

Powder Day

Posted January 16, 2020 at 9:16 am

**3 inches of new snow overnight and 5 inches in the past 2 days**

**Ski Patrol Director Eli Moore trail checking Upper FIS**

We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We now have 33 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 12 to 48 inches. 24 trails have been groomed for today for a grand total of 103 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is snowing and 24 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for snow with another 5 to 9 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 29 degrees. Temperatures will be falling in the afternoon. High school ski race today on Snake Bite and the Practice Slope.