Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

0

Birch Run Fun

Posted March 15, 2020 at 4:00 pm

The Birch Run Terrain Park has two jumps and 5 rails. Tomorrow we plan to have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. The Madonna I lift will not open tomorrow. In the case of a lift evacuation, the icy surface on Madonna Liftline would make it hard to get the skiers and rider off the mountain safely. Thank you for your understanding. We plan to have 32 trails open for tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 14 to 52 inches. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Playground, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 114 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is sunny and 14 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 37 degrees.

0

Another sunny day

Posted February 23, 2020 at 9:29 am

**Parker and his dad John ready for a great day on mountain!**

Today we 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 have been groomed for today, including Snow Snake, Shuttle, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 128 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently it is sunny and 30 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 40 degrees. Enjoy the sunshine and great conditions!

0

Gorgeous day

Posted February 22, 2020 at 3:29 pm

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.

0

Snow Snake is open

Posted February 1, 2020 at 3:32 pm

I love Snow Snake. It has always been one my favorite runs. I can remember back when I was a kid learning to ski on Morse Mountain. You would take the skills you learned on Garden Path and test them on Snow Snake. Snow Snake will let you know if you are ready to go to the upper mountains.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We now have 74 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. 30 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Snake Bite, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 124 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Skier’s right on Upper FIS will be groomed tonight from Catwalk down to Dan’s Ford. Dan’s Ford down to Times Square will be groomed full width. Currently, it is cloudy and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a slight chance of a snow shower late in the day and a high of 30 degrees. Free Family Fun Race tomorrow on Lower Madonna Liftline from 11 am till 2 pm.

0

Snowmaking in progress

Posted January 29, 2020 at 11:05 am

**Tower guns at the base of the Village Lift**

Snowmaking continues around the clock on Log Jam, Snow Snake, Hibernator, and the base of the Village Lift. Log Jam and Hibernator are closed today due to snowmaking.

0

Skimmin’, Chillin’, and Grillin’

Posted April 6, 2019 at 5:03 pm

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 60 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. We plan to groom 26 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 120 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is cloudy and 33 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with temperatures between 35 to 50 inches.

0

The big event is tomorrow!

Posted April 5, 2019 at 3:55 pm

9th Annual Pond Skimming

Registration for this free event starts at 10:00 am at the Smugglers’ Notch tent in Parking Lot 1. The first skimmer launches toward the pond at 12:00 noon. Prizes awarded for best costume. A “don’t miss” for spectators! Presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Chillin’ & Grillin’ Tailgate Party

Join us in the Sierra Nevada beer garden for a refreshing brew and refuel at the all-day-long Chillin’ & Grillin’ Tailgate Party. Impress us with your bumperside party planning skills and you could win the Ultimate Tailgate Prize! Stop by our Vendor Village and the Smugglers’ Notch tent to enter for a chance to win awesome prizes! Drawings will be held throughout the afternoon for cash and prizes. MORE PRIZES THAN EVER THIS YEAR! Enter our Chillin’ 50/50 raffle where proceeds will benefit a local charity of the winner’s choice.

Cambridge Day

Hey neighbors! You’re invited to enjoy a day of skiing and riding at Smuggs! Cambridge and Jeffersonville VT residents get FREE lift tickets, FREE equipment, FREE group lessons* for ages 5 to adult, and a special $15 Vermonter rate for FunZone 2.0 (don’t forget your socks and sneakers) – just show a valid ID with your Cambridge or Jeffersonville address.

A reusable Notch Card is required for lift tickets and lessons and can be purchased for $5 plus tax.

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 55 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. We plan to groom 33 trails tonight, including Drifter, Snow Snake, and Jolly Rodger for a grand total of 128 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is partly cloudy and 31 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tonight’s forecast is periods of snow with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is a chance of snow/mix early then skies becoming sunny with temperatures between 35 and 50 degrees.

0

Cat Trax Express Fireworks Tour

Posted April 5, 2019 at 7:39 am

Sunset seen through the back window of the cat

It was a beautiful night for a Cat Trax Tour on Morse Mountain last night. We took in a wonderful sunset from the top of the Village Lift. The fantastic colors in the sky continued through the torchlight parade and the fireworks! This was an amazing experience and another great way to take in all that Smuggs has to offer!

Top of the Village Lift

Lifts and Trails

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 54 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. 36 trails have been groomed for today, including Shuttle, Snow Snake, and Smuggler’s Alley for a grand total of 134 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Sunset and parade

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 21 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for sunny skies early with increasing clouds, a chance of snow/mix late in the day with temperatures between 22 and 41 degrees.

Torchlight Parade

Sunset and fireworks

0

If you build it they will come

Posted April 4, 2019 at 2:51 pm

The view from above

Mike McAdoo and Arlo Pouliot have been very busy the past few days moving snow around in the Zone Terrain Park. First, they removed all the rails from the park and then they starting pushing. This winter we made some big piles of snow in the upper half of the Zone. They were left there to be used at a later date, well that time has come. Mike has been pushing the snow down from the upper half of the Zone to the pond. Arlo has been using the winch cat to push the snow up from the lower half of the Zone to the pond. All of their hard work is paying off, because the pond is looking great! The 9th Annual Pond Skimming, Chillin’ & Grillin’ Tailgate Party is this Saturday, April 6th!

The Pond is really starting to take shape

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 57 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. We plan to groom 39 trails tonight, including Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 134 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Winch Cat pushing snow up from below

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 15 to 30 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for sunny skies early with increasing clouds, a chance of snow/rain late in the day and temperatures between 22 and 41 degrees.

0

Virginia to Vermont

Posted April 2, 2019 at 4:23 pm

Liza and Julia in 3 Mountain Glades.

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. As I was leaving Patrol and heading to MI, I heard my name being called. It was my friends Liza and her daughter Julia from Virginia. They are 2nd and 3rd Generation Smugglers who vacation here in the summer and winter. Liza and her siblings learned to ski on Morse, Madonna, and Sterling mountains, and now it’s her kids’ turn (or turns, if you will). Julia was telling me about taking lessons with Matt McCawley, himself a 2nd generation Smuggler, being the son of Squatch and Judy. Matt successfully challenged her to do Black Diamond trails and gave her an appreciation of the glades. It was a blast taking runs with them!!

LIFTS & TRAILS

For Wednesday we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts – including MI – operating and 63 trails open!

Julia leading Liza down Upper Drifter.

GROOMING

33 trails/130 acres are on the grooming schedule for Wednesday, including Smugglers’ Alley, Shuttle, and Snow Snake.

SNOW

5 inches in the past 3 days. 375 inches this season.

EVENTS

Saturday, April 6th – Pond Skimming, Chillin’ & Grillin’ Tailgate Party and Cambridge Day.

Tuesday, April 9th – Ben & Jerry’s FREE Cone Day at the scoop shop in the Village Lodge.

Sunday, April 21st – Easter Sunrise Service – load at the Sterling Lift from 6:00 am – 6:30 am.

Visit smuggs.com for more details.