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Fantastic conditions

Snow Sport University Instructor Matt McCawley playing in some fresh snow

I had a wonderful time today! We received 32 inches of snow in the past week and everything is in great shape. The groomers have a nice deep base and the glades have filled in. I took a run with Matt McCawley and his group today. We skied Upper Chilcoot, Catwalk, Doc Dempsey’s, Ruthie’s, Gary B’s, and Bermuda. Of course, Matt had a few tricks up his sleeve and we were able to find a few powder stashes also. It’s always fun to ski with Matt!

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna 1 lift. We plan to have 77 out of 78 trails open tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 35 trails tonight, including Waterfall, Snow Snake, and Snake Bite for a grand total of 132 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We also plan to groom some natural snow trails like the bottom of Black Bear, Shuttle, Evaporator, and Jolly Rodger. Currently, it is partly cloudy and 22 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tonight’s forecast is calling for 1 to 2 inches of snow. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow another 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 30 degrees.

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Longtime Smuggs Family Member

Sage and I on the Madonna I Lift

I was getting ready to load the Madonna I Lift today when Snow Sport University Ski Instructor Matt McCawley stopped me. He had an odd number of people in his group and noticed that I was single, so I rode the lift with Sage. We started talking about the snow report, Smuggs, and how long we each have been here at Smuggs. I told Sage that “I started skiing here when I was eleven years old and our first year living in Vermont was right here in the village of Smuggs.” I thought I had been here a while until Sage told me, “My father is Jim Snider and my grandfather is Stanley Snider.” Stanley Snider was hired by then Smuggs owner Tom Watson Jr. in 1967 to build his dream of a village resort at the base of three interconnected mountains. Stanley Snider a successful developer of resort properties was to plan and build the village complex. Stanley Snider bought the resort from Tom Watson Jr. in 1973. Stanley Snider brought William P. Stritzler on board in 1987 as Managing Director. Mr. Stritzler was a Vice President with AT&T at the time and had been a vacation homeowner at Smugglers’ since 1977. Mr. Stritzler fell in love with Smuggs and bought the resort from Stanley Snider in 1996. Sage told me “I love skiing in the glades and Smuggs is my home!” It was great to meet you Sage and thanks for the walk down memory lane!

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Another beautiful day

Summit of Sterling
Sun dog caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere
Snow Sport University Snowboard Instructor Justin Wright doing a demonstration.
“Hey Justin like this”
Tony in the Harvey Wesson Memorial Race Series

We received 4 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 16 inches in the past 3 days! The conditions are great and we have more snow in the forecast for the weekend. 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 now have 43 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 12 to 50 inches. We are presently making snow on Practice Slope, McPherson’s, Playground, and Upper FIS from Goat Path down to Times Square. Currently, it is sunny and -8 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with snow in the afternoon and 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 22 degrees. Tomorrow night’s forecast is 5 to 9 inches of snow. Sunday’s forecast is also snow with another 2 to 4 inches.

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Fresh snow

Smugglers’ Alley
Smugglers’ Alley
Snow Sport University Snowboard Instructor Allison Tillberg enjoying the new snow!

The 1 to 2 inches of new snow has really made a big difference. The snow started out wet and sticky. This is great because it bonded with the existing snow. One comment was “It’s like 2 inches of cream cheese on corduroy.” The conditions are really good and only getting better. We could see up to 15 inches of new snow by Friday and that will make the trail count jump!

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Sir Henry’s Learning Hill

Snow Sport University Snowboard Lesson

We have 2 lifts operating today, the Morse Highlands Lift and Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet. We have 50 skiable trails and 9 lift accessible trails open today. Sterling Lift, Madonna I Lift, Madonna II Lift, Village Lift, and Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift are presently on wind hold. All 9 trails have been groomed for today, including Dixie’s Knoll and Log Jam. Surface conditions are spring conditions and machine groomed with average base depths of 12 to 48 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 44 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 25 to 45 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of rain in the afternoon with a high of 49 degrees.

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Here comes the storm

Clouds rolling in over Madonna and Sterling Mountain
Snow Sport University Snowboard Instructor Nick Hover carving a heel side turn on Lower Morse Liftline.
The latest weather update from NOAA

Today: Snow, mainly after noon. High near 31. The chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight: Snow, mainly before 1 am, then snow showers likely after 1 am. Low around 15. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 8 am. Cloudy, with a high near 16. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

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Skiing and riding on all 3 mountains

Snow Sport University
Garden Path with Madonna Mountain in the background

Tomorrow we plan to have 6 lifts operating; Sterling, Madonna II, Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet, Morse Highlands, and the Village Lift. We have 23 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 20 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley and Garden Path for a grand total of 86 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tonight we plan to make snow on Upper Chilcoot. Weather permitting we plan to have the Madonna I Lift open this weekend. Tomorrow we are going to install some features on the lower half of Birch Run Terrain Park and we plan to have it open by the afternoon. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 32 degrees. Happy Holidays!

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Happy Holidays

Snow Sport University Instructor Dave Delbeck sporting a nice helmet cover.
Which trail shall we ski next?
55+ Club member Doug with his fancy hat

Today we have skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating; Sterling, Madonna II, Village, Sir Henry’s Wonder Carpet, Morse Highlands, and Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift. We have 23 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 20 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 86 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 48 inches. Today’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 26 degrees.