Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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#smuggslove

Posted January 20, 2019 at 5:33 pm

I would like you to meet Sheena Petal and her 1 year old daughter Addie. Four years ago on a very cold day Addie’s parents Sheena and Jay took a Cat Trax Tour to the top of Madonna Mountain. I was on that Cat Trax Tour with Sheena and Jay. When we got in the heated cabin of the groomer they informed us that they were going to get married on top of the mountain. They had a Justice of the Peace along with them to perform the ceremony. I remember joking with them on the cat ride up the mountain that it was not going to rain on your wedding day. It was a beautiful ceremony and one I will never forget. The funny thing is last night on the Cat Trax Tour up Madonna Mountain, I was telling the story of Sheena and Jay getting married when it was -25 degrees. Then today I ran into Sheena and Addie in front of Treasures Day Care. I told Sheena that I was just talking about you! Sheena and Jay have been coming to Smuggs ever since getting married here. Sheena and Addie were going to check out Treasures Day Care, so that Mommy and Daddy could go make some turns. It was wonderful to run into you and Addie today!

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Quality Family Time

Posted January 17, 2019 at 5:33 pm

Hannah on Lower Catwalk with Sterling and Mount Mansfield in the background.

I got to take a few runs with my daughter Hannah this afternoon. She was here with her 5th grade class from Cambridge Elementary School. She has been participating in the Winter Wellness Program. They have all been having such a great time! She has really been enjoying the amazing conditions. She will be back tomorrow and she cannot wait!

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We have 73 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 35 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, for a grand total of 141 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches.

Hannah finds some fresh snow in the trees

Snowmaking

Tonight we plan to make snow on Bootlegger, Thomke’s Express, Upper Pipeline, Chute, Hangman’s Drop, and the Zone.

Todd and his daughter Reese at Morse Mountain today. Reese’s birthday is in the summer, but they wanted to celebrate with a special Father and Daughter ski day. They decided to celebrate the 1/2 year and come to Smuggs today!

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 3 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow showers 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with temperatures between 2o and 31 degrees.

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Smuggs Family

Posted January 17, 2019 at 11:08 am

Smiles all around

I would like you to meet Sam, Jake, and Nick. They are long time friends with families of their own. Their three families have been coming to Smuggs for the past five years. They all have kids taking lessons in Snow Sport University. They arrived last night, got their kids to their lessons this morning, and are now headed to the upper mountains for a day full of adventure. I rode the lift with Sam and he was telling me that they have been checking out “Hugh’s Views” to see what the mountains are like in preparation for their trip. They asked me what I would suggest for them to see and ski. I told them about trails with snowmaking, groomed trails, and I told them that on a day like today the views from the summit of Madonna would be amazing. I hope you have a wonderful vacation here at Smuggs and many more returns.

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Longtime Smuggs Family Member

Posted January 13, 2019 at 2:43 pm

Bud at the top of the Village Lift

I would like you to meet Bud Conger. Bud has been skiing for 63 years and has been teaching skiing here at Smuggs for 54 years! Three generations of Congers have been instructors here at Smuggs. Bud’s daughter Maureen use to instruct here at Smuggs. Bud and his grandson Brendan are both presenting instructing here at Smuggs. It is great to see Bud out on the slopes having fun, he is truly an inspiration.

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Members of the Smuggs Family

Posted January 5, 2019 at 11:23 am

I would like to meet the Lee Family. They traveled from Toronto to be here. This is their first time at Smugglers’ Notch and they are having a blast. They were all smiles as they got ready to explore all that Smuggs has to offer! They told me that they made some life long memories with their family and they are coming back!

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New member of the Smuggs Family

Posted December 28, 2018 at 11:33 am

Mark enjoying the soft conditions on Garden Path

I rode Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift this morning with Mark. We had a great chat on the way up the mountain. Mark told me that it has been 15 years since he skied last and he really wanted his family to learn how to ski. He starting doing some research and heard that Smugglers’ Notch was the place for families! Mark said that he had never been to Vermont, so they decided to do something new and check out Smugglers’ Notch. Mark’s family is all taking lessons today. He was telling me that he could not wait to pick up his kids after their lesson, so that they could all take some runs together! Thanks for taking a couple runs with me today Mark and welcome to the Smuggs Family!

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Another member of the Smuggs Family

Posted December 27, 2018 at 2:40 pm

Jerry at the top of the Village Lift

I would like you to meet Jerry Char. Jerry has been skiing here at Smuggs since 1974. I was lucky enough to ride the Village Lift with Jerry today. We had a great discussion about Smuggs over the years. Jerry was telling me about friends that he has made over the years here at Smuggs that date back to the Crown and Anchor days. I’ve been here a long time but Jerry has me beat.

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Family Fun

Posted December 26, 2018 at 11:05 am

The Botjer family at the top of the Village lift

Happy Holidays!

Ryan and his brother grew up in Vermont. They have since moved, but they bring their families here to Smuggs to ski and celebrate the holidays. Everyone is all smiles as they get ready to ski over to the upper mountains to have fun on Madonna and Sterling.

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Smuggs Family

Posted February 21, 2018 at 9:27 am

Victoria in front of the Madonna I Lift

I would like you to meet Joyce Vandersommen and her daughter Victoria. They both work here at Smugglers’ Notch. Joyce works at the Morse Highlands lift and Victoria works at the Madonna I lift. These two wonderful ladies are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They are originally from South Carolina. A family tragedy caused the loss of their husband/ father and son/brother. They felt that they could no longer stay in South Carolina. Joyce put her house on the market and set out to find a new place to call home. Joyce and Victoria visited Smugglers’ Notch and fell in love with the people and this beautiful place. They both got jobs

Joyce loading chairs at the Morse Highlands Lift

as lift operators and bought a townhouse here in the Village. They knew that they had found their new home and their new family. Joyce has a son Collin who is active duty in the Army. Collin visits frequently and considers Smuggs his home base. Joyce also has a military background. She is a combat war veteran. She retired in 2006 with 20 years in the Air Force Reserves. She plans to return to her nursing career as Director of Surgical Services in the near future, but Smuggs will remain her home. Victoria is a recent graduate from the University of Alaska in Anchorage where she received her degree in Environmental Science. This summer Victoria plans to resume her position as a wilderness guide for a tour company in Prince William Sound. If you see Joyce or Victoria make sure to say hello!