Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Another beautiful day on the slopes

Posted January 29, 2020 at 5:33 pm

**Upper Drifter with the top of Mount Mansfield seen through the clouds**

**Matt McCawley’s class from the Cambridge Elementary School here for their Winter Wellness**

**Ritter knocking off the rime ice from the chairs on the Madonna I Lift**

**Mike McAdoo and Arlo Pouliot winching Upper Drifter. This photo was taken Jan. 28, 2020**

**Bright white trees against the blue sky on Madonna**

I want to thank Mike McAdoo and Arlo Pouliot for their work on Upper Drifter. They used the winch cat to pull snow up Drifter yesterday. They did a great job covering the rough spots near the fence. The wind loves to take the snow and move it away from the fence. The last photo “farming snow” is where the snow usually ends up. The groomers can pull the snow back on the trail and then down around the fence. This method of farming snow is a great way to capture the blown snow.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We now have 69 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 14 to 50 inches. We are presently making snow on Snow Snake, Log Jam, Hibernator, and the base area of the Village Lift. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Shuttle, Jolly Rodger, and Wanderer for a grand total of 94 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly sunny and 5 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 25 degrees. Log Jam and Hibernator will be closed tomorrow for snowmaking.

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Another member of the Smuggs Family

Posted January 18, 2020 at 3:14 pm

I would like you to meet Joe. Joe is from New Jersey and is here with a group. I was skiing Upper Drifter when I saw someone walking down the trail. I stopped to ask “what is going on”? Joe told me that “he rode his snowboard through a little water and now he has ice on the bottom of his board.” The ice on the bottom of his board would not allow him to slide. Joe did not have anything to scrap the ice off his board. I told Joe that “this has happened to me many times and it is easy to fix.” I took my skis off and used them to scrape the ice off his board. Joe said that “he was not able to keep up with his group because of ice on his board and he was not sure where to go.” I told Joe “No problem, let’s ski and ride down together. We will go to the Base Lodge and see if we can find anyone in your group.” When we got to the Base Lodge one of Joe’s friends was out in front of the ski racks looking for him. Joe was now back with his group and everybody was happy to see each other again. One thing I want to say about these young men I met today is that they are very nice and polite. Joe and his friends all shook my hand and gave me a sincere “Thank You.” It was wonderful to meet Joe and his friends. I hope you have a fantastic trip here at Smuggs and I hope to see you again.

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Calm before the storm

Posted January 18, 2020 at 11:26 am

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Views from Drifter

Posted January 10, 2020 at 12:33 pm

Upper Drifter is a trail that I make many stops on. There are just too many great views to take in. I also enjoy how the views change as you work your way down the mountain. One of my favorite spots for taking in the scenery is by the fence. You can stop above the fence so that it does not block your view.

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Just picture perfect

Posted March 24, 2019 at 4:03 pm

Powder Hound

Today was gorgeous with great conditions and beautiful sunshine. The winds decreased allowing the sun to work its magic. The 23 inches of new snow that we received in the past 3 days has been incredible. The storm started out with warmer temperatures and wet snow. The temperatures slowly dropped as it continued to snow. The wet snow bonded with the old snow and was topped off with lighter snow, making it the perfect storm. Especially when the sun comes out right after the storm!

View from Upper Drifter

Lifts and Trails

We are 100 percent open! Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We plan to have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 37 trails tonight, including Smugglers’ Alley, Snow Snake, and Drifter for a grand total of 145 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Taking flight

New Snow

We received 14 inches of new snow in the past 2 days, 23 inches in the past 3 days, and 368 inches this season so far!

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is partly cloudy skies with increasing sunshine and temperatures between 11 and 29 degrees.

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Picture yourself here

Posted March 18, 2019 at 1:16 pm

Upper Drifter with Sterling Pond and Mount Mansfield in the background

Beautiful sunny skies and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 65 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Great conditions!

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Fresh snow and sunshine

Posted February 28, 2019 at 9:24 am

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from Upper Drifter

New Snow

We received an inch of new snow last night, 7 inches in the past 5 days, and 313 inches this season so far!

Lifts and Trails

We are 99 percent open! We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 42 trails have been groomed for today, including Shuttle, Ruthie’s, Smugglers’ Alley, and Evaporator for a grand total of 156 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Shadow dancing on Shuttle

Weather

Currently it is sunny and 2 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is sunny skies with temperatures between 5 and 17 degrees.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Upper Zone. We plan to make snow on the Upper Zone tonight also.

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Smugglers’ Alley

Posted February 24, 2019 at 5:20 pm

We received 2 to 3 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 15 inches in the past week. The new snow had a good bit of sleet in it and that made it dense. It skied more like 6 inches of new snow, because it could hold you up. The wind blew it around and it filled in the low spots. I had a great time today on the groomers and playing in the trees.

Lifts and Trails

Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains. We plan to have 6 lifts operating with 77 trails open. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 33 trails tonight, including Upper Drifter, Wanderer, and Lower Pipeline for a grand total of 135 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Weather

Currently it is 27 degrees at the summit of Sterling with sleet and winds of 15 to 30 mph. Tonight’s forecast is snow showers up to 4 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for snow showers another inch of accumulation possible with temperatures between 12 and 28 degrees.

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Upper FIS is groomed

Posted February 21, 2019 at 8:58 am

Ski Patroller Mike Duncan trail checking Upper FIS

Lifts and Trails

We are 100 percent open! We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. All 78 trails are open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 43 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper Drifter, Hangman’s Drop, and Hibernator for a grand total of 156 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Upper FIS is groomed on skier’s right from Catwalk down to the Doc’s cutoff and from there down it is groomed full width.

New Snow

We received 2 to 3 inches of new snow overnight, 15 inches in the past week, and 303 inches this season so far!

Weather

Currently it is 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 10 to 20 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for a chance of mix early then becoming snow later an inch of accumulation possible with temperatures between 25 and 39 degrees.

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Another beautiful day here at Smuggs

Posted February 10, 2019 at 5:27 pm

Snow Sport University Snowboard Lesson on Sterling

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 47 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 20 to 50 inches. 45 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Snake Bite, and Hibernator for a grand total 0f 176 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Rockin the Tie Dye on Chilcoot

Weather

Currently it is 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with sunny skies and winds of 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 6 and 16 degrees.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Meadowlark.

LL Bean Bootmobile Mountain Tour was here at Smuggs this weekend