Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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56 inches of natural snowfall this season so far!

Posted November 22, 2018 at 4:43 pm

Winter Wonderland

It has been an amazing start to the season! Mother Nature decided to turn the knob from fall to winter a few weeks ago and things have really changed on the mountain. Our Snowmakers have been busy for weeks making snow on trails like Smugglers’ Alley, Upper Rumrunner, Crossover, Treasure Run, Lower Exhibition, Birch Run, and Lower Rumrunner. They are presently making snow on Lower Morse Mountain. The base depths having been building up with all the natural snowfall and consistent cooler temperatures. I have been here at Smuggs for many years and I can’t remember a season starting off this good! The stoke level has been pretty high around here for weeks now and is going to be even higher tomorrow. The Opening Day of the 2018 – 2019 Winter Season is tomorrow Friday, November 23rd. The abundant amount of snow is going to allow us to have both the Sterling Lift and Madonna I Lift operating for Opening Day.

Making tracks towards the Village

We plan to operate the Madonna I lift from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm on Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24. Tomorrow we plan to have 56 trails open for intermediates and experts. Most of the trails have natural snow coverage, so be aware and ski with care. Sir Henry’s Learning Hill will be open for beginners and private lessons are available this weekend. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 21 degrees. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy all the wonderful snow!

Shane enjoying some fresh turns on Jolly Rodger

Hugh B having fun on Bootlegger

Tony floating through the fresh snow

Snow Reporter checking out the product

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Closing Day is Sunday, April 15th

Posted April 14, 2018 at 3:56 pm

Sterling and Mount Mansfield

I ran into my good friend Phil and his son James in Lot #1 this morning. We did some cruiser runs on Madonna and Sterling. It was great to catch up and make some turns together.

Tonights forecast is snow and sleet with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for more snow and sleet with another 1 to 3 inches of accumulation and temperatures between 21 and 32 degrees.

Phil on Upper FIS

15 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 68 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We plan to have both the Madonna I and Sterling lifts operating tomorrow with 33 trails open for intermediates and experts.

Catwalk

James on Upper Rumrunner

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A little more fresh snow

Posted April 11, 2018 at 11:58 am

Dave throwing some snow around on Full Nelson

We received a dusting to an inch of new snow overnight. We have the Sterling lift operating today with 24 trails open for intermediates and experts. 15 trails have been groomed for today, that’s 40 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Today’s forecast is mostly sunny skies with increasing clouds and a high of 42 degrees.

Geoff on Full Nelson

Ice flow on Upper Rumrunner

Mount Mansfield seen from Upper Rumrunner

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Snowmaking overnight

Posted February 23, 2018 at 9:17 am

Groomer at the summit of Sterling Mountain Photo credit Jeff Spring of Snow Sport University

Last night our snowmakers laid down a nice blanket of new snow on Upper Rumrunner, Crossover, Treasure Run, and Lower Exhibition. This morning our grooming crew was smoothing out the snowmaking whales for your skiing and riding pleasure. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 34 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. All 34 trails have been groomed for today, that’s a grand total of 145 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Today’s forecast is calling for increasing clouds light snow and sleet with a chance of mix later in the day, temperatures between 26 and 37 degrees. We could see up to 2 inches of new snow Saturday night into Sunday.

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Full Circle

Posted February 22, 2018 at 3:22 pm

Connie with her class on Wanderer

I would like you to meet Connie Douthwaite. Connie is a member of the Snow Sport University here at Smugglers’ Notch. She is a ski instructor who works with 3 to 6 year old children. The neat thing is that 13 years ago Connie was a 6 year old child taking ski lessons here at Smugglers’ Notch. Connie told me that her instructor back then was Larry Arnold who still works here at Smugglers’ Notch as a ski instructor. It is wonderful to see someone who learned to ski here 13 years ago is now teaching the next generation!

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We now have 36 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Tonight we plan to resume snowmaking on Upper Rumrunner, Crossover, Treasure Run, Lower Exhibition, and the Practice Slope. All 36 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 145 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for light snow and sleet a dusting of accumulation with a chance of mix later in the day and temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees. Tomorrow we plan to have the Log Jam, Birch Run, and Zone Terrain Park all open.