Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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More new snow

Posted March 28, 2022 at 8:07 am

We received 3 inches of new snow overnight, 7 inches in the past 24 hours, and 13 inches in the past 4 days. Today we have 4 lifts operating; Sterling, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, Village, and Sir Henry’s Glider. Madonna Mountain will be closed today for grooming operations. We have 37 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 18 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley and Snow Snake for a grand total of 80 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and packed powder with average base depths of 8 to 42 inches. Currently, it is cloudy and 0 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 15 degrees at the base and 2 degrees at higher elevations. Bundle up and enjoy all the fresh snow!

Uphill Travel

Morse Highlands area is open to uphill travel during the day. Please use Log Jam and Hibernator while heading uphill. We hope to open more uphill terrain in the near future.

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Wide open spaces

Posted March 23, 2022 at 4:08 pm

Currently, it is partly sunny and 33 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for freezing rain, sleet, rain, and gusty winds with a high of 35 degrees. Windy conditions could affect some lift operations tomorrow. Please check the report in the morning for the most up-to-date information. Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 34 trails open with terrain for all ability levels.

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Colder temperatures return tonight

Posted March 20, 2022 at 4:05 pm

It was another great day of spring skiing and riding today. Tomorrow is the first day of spring, but it will feel more like the return of winter. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible on top. Tomorrow’s forecast is cloudy skies with a chance of a snow shower and a high of 38 degrees at the base and 30 degrees at higher elevations. Madonna Mountain will be closed tomorrow for grooming operations and we plan to have it open again on Tuesday. Tomorrow we plan to have 5 lifts operating; Sterling, Village, Mogul Mouse’s Magic, Morse Highlands, and Sir Henry’s Glider. We have 29 trails open tomorrow with terrain for all ability levels. 21 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Garden Path, Curley’s Cutback, and Black Snake for a grand total of 90 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 6 to 40 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park is open with 3 jumps and 6 rails. Currently, it is 29 degrees at the summit of Madonna with light snow and winds of 10 to 15 mph.

Uphill Travel

All 3 mountains are presently closed to uphill travel.

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March 8th morning update

Posted March 8, 2022 at 8:00 am

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Due to the rapidly changing conditions, we have had some updates.

LIFTS: Madonna II will open at 9 am, Village and Mogul Mouse at 10 am. Sterling is on wind hold. Morse Highlands and Madonna I closed today.

TRAILS: 16 trails – all groomed – will be open for today.

LOT 1: There is no return access to Lot 1 this morning. Parking in Lot 3 will be the best option.

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Making memories

Posted March 2, 2022 at 9:03 am

Yesterday was the last day of school break and it also happened to be my day off. My daughter Hannah and I came up to do some runs in the afternoon. On the lift ride up Madonna, we talked about where we were going to ski. I suggested that we ski something that Hannah has not skied yet. Hannah is 13 years old and has been on the slopes of Smuggs her whole life. Finding somewhere she has not been may be a challenge. I love to explore and with 3 mountains Smuggs has so much to discover. We skied back-to-back runs that Hannah has not skied on both Madonna and Sterling. We had a wonderful afternoon filled with fresh turns and big smiles. Hannah told me “The next time that I’m not sure if I want to go skiing or not I’m going to remember today!”

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including Morse Highlands and Madonna I. We have 68 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 the work road. Robin’s Run is open for now and may not last all day. 31 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Black Snake, and Hibernator for a grand total of 128 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 50 inches. Currently, it is 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 5 to10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a high of 23 degrees at the base and 17 degrees at higher elevations.

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It’s snowing

Posted February 18, 2022 at 8:02 am

We received an inch of new snow with more on the way. Currently, it is snowing and 9 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 20 to 30 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible and a high of 19 degrees at the base and 9 degrees at higher elevations. Temperatures will be falling throughout the day. We plan to open the Sterling Lift around 10 am today. We plan to open the Madonna II Lift around noon today. The Madonna I Lift is presently on wind hold. Surface conditions are variable and frozen granular with average base depths of 14 to 46 inches.

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Good morning

Posted February 14, 2022 at 8:30 am

We received a dusting of new snow overnight. Currently, it is -9 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of flurries and a high of 8 degrees. The Madonna I Lift is on cold hold until 10 am today. We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Morse Highlands Lift. We have 64 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 32 trails have been groomed for today, including Goat Path, skier’s right of Upper FIS down to Doc’s cutoff, Log Jam, Snow Snake, Thomke’s, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 128 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and loose granular with average base depths of 16 to 48 inches.

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Winter wonderland

Posted February 9, 2022 at 2:02 pm

We received 23 inches of new snow in the past week and 135 inches this season so far. Currently, it is partly sunny and 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with a high of 33 degrees. 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 72 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 48 inches. 28 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Playground, Black Snake, and Sam’s Run for a grand total of 113 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Last night we made snow on Lower Drifter, Link to Sterling, and the Zone. We plan to have the Morse Highlands Lift and Madonna II Lift operating on Friday. Knight’s Revenge and Birch Run Terrain Parks are both open.

Matt taking in the beautiful views off of Madonna Mountain

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Another day in paradise

Posted February 9, 2022 at 7:39 am

We received an inch of new snow yesterday and 23 inches in the past week. Currently, it is sunny and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies early becoming partly sunny later with a high of 33 degrees. Today 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 71 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 28 trails have been groomed for today, including Shuttle, Black Snake, and Howie’s Wanderer for a grand total of 115 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We are presently making snow on Lower Drifter and the Zone.

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Just what the Doc ordered

Posted February 3, 2022 at 4:37 pm

This storm started off warm and wet. We received one and a half inches of cream cheese at higher elevations overnight. This morning it was raining in the Village and snowing on top. By 9:30 am it was snowing top to bottom. The new heavy wet snow will bond great with our existing deep base. It was 30 degrees at the summit of Sterling this morning and now it is 17 degrees. The colder temperature is now producing wonderful light and fluffy snow. Tonight’s forecast is calling for 8 to 12 inches of blower snow. Tomorrow’s forecast is more snow, 3 to 5 inches with a high of 16 degrees at the base and 12 degrees at higher elevations. If you were out on the mountain today make sure you dry out your gear tonight. You want to be ready for tomorrow’s powder day! Speaking of a powder day, we are going to receive quite a bit of snow overnight. It takes two grooming shifts through the night to groom all 3 mountains. Our groomers will start on Madonna Mountain and Sterling Mountain first. The corduroy that they produce will be covered with a bunch of new snow by morning. Our groomers will hit Morse Mountain later in the night. This way they can pack down as much new snow as possible. If you are looking for the freshest groomed terrain, Morse Mountain will be it tomorrow. 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 67 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. Snowmaking operations resume tomorrow night on Lower Morse Liftline. Uphill travel on Morse Mountain will be closed this Saturday and Sunday. We also plan to make snow in the Zone this weekend.