The Sterling Lift is operating today. We have 29 trails open with terrain for intermediates and experts. Currently, it is sunny and 48 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 57 degrees at the base and 52 degrees at higher elevations. Get it while you can, the last day of the season is Sunday, April 14th.
We experienced many types of weather today with sleet, freezing rain, rain, windy conditions, and even partly sunny skies. I had a blast today on Snow Snake. It was groomed last night and was skiing great! The trail was nice and flat with soft creamy snow on top. Snow Snake has steeper pitches, multiple turns, and neat contours, which made it more challenging than some of the other Morse Mountain trails. This also makes it more fun. It was one of my favorites as a kid and I still love it today! 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 34 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Upper FIS, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 126 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 6 to 40 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 29 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 20 to 30 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of rain at the base, rain and snow at higher elevations. A high of 45 degrees at the base and 37 degrees at higher elevations for tomorrow with lighter winds than today.
Uphill Travel
All 3 mountains are presently closed to uphill travel at this time.
People wearing fun outfits, smiles, goggle tans, warm temperatures, sunshine, and spring conditions! I started the day off with a few cruisers on Chilcoot, Link, Lower Madonna Liftline, Drifter, Shuttle, and Treasure. I headed for soft bumps next on Doc Dempsey’s and Upper FIS. I even spotted the leprechaun on Morse Mountain.
Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including Morse Highlands and Madonna I. We have 60 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 22 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Chilcoot, Rumrunner, Treasure Run, Garden Path, Log Jam, and Lower Morse Liftline for a grand total of 92 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are spring conditions and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 48 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 3 jumps and 6 rails. Currently, it is sunny and 51 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a slight chance of light rain early then skies becoming mostly sunny with a high of 52 degrees at the base and 44 degrees at higher elevations. Temperatures do not go below freezing tonight, so expect more spring conditions tomorrow.
Snow Sport University
It’s another beautiful day here at Smuggs. We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 63 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Currently it is 34 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. We could see a high of 45 degrees today. Spring Conditions!
There were 5 groomers on Morse Mountain this morning when I arrived at work. It was fun to watch as yesterday’s tracks were turned into today’s beautiful corduroy. The groomers work together as if harvesting wheat. They stagger behind one another to make sure all the snow gets groomed. Thank you to our groomers for another job well done!
Lifts and TrailsToday we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating. We have 63 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. 33 trails have been groomed for today, including Chilcoot, Lower Morse Liftline, and Black Snake for a grand total of 130 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
WeatherCurrently it is partly cloudy and 29 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies early with a chance of snow/rain later in the day with temperatures between 25 and 46 degrees. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible.
Sean Hayes enjoying the soft snow on Black Snake
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.
Spring forward photo credit Ken Rule
Today was absolutely gorgeous with mild temperatures and blue bird skies. Spring is in the air! We have great snow depths as we head into April tomorrow. The groomers have been doing a wonderful job especially on the steeper trails like Upper Pipeline, Hangman’s Drop, Bootlegger, Smugglers’ Alley, Skier’s right side of Upper FIS, Snake Bite, and Chute. The groomers will be busy again tonight. 43 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Goat Path, Snake Bite, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 150 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
Tonight’s forecast is calling for some snow showers and we could see an inch of accumulation. Tomorrow’s
Hayleigh having fun on Hangman’s Drop
forecast is a chance of flurries early then partly sunny skies in the afternoon with a high of 33 degrees.
Easter Summit Sunrise Service is tomorrow April 1st. The Sterling lifts will be loading from 6 am till 6:30 am for the service. I would like to give a shout out to Leroy and his triplets from Pennsylvania who are here at Smuggs enjoying the spring conditions.
Ken enjoying the soft conditons
Hugh B throwing some snow around on Snake Bite
Justin on Snake Bite
Upper FIS
It was another beautiful day here at Smuggs. The clouds were clinging to the summits of Madonna and Sterling, but everywhere else was partly sunny. The warm temperatures made for some great spring conditions. The soft moguls on Upper FIS were a blast! The skier’s right hand side had been groomed the night before last, so the bumps were smaller on that side. The skier’s left hand side is another story with nice good size moguls. A skier commented to me as they skied by, “I am so glad that they left Upper FIS bumped up!”
We are 100 percent open! Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts
Upper FIS with Mount Mansfield in the background
operating and all 78 trails open. Robin’s Run is open from the work road down to Freefall. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 20 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Chilcoot, Crossover, and Garden Path for a grand total of 87 acres of freshly groomed terrain.
Bird’s eye view
Snow Sport University Ski Instructor enjoying the soft bumps on Upper FIS