Hugh's Views

As I wrap up the season, I can’t help but reflect on a member of our Smuggs family who we lost this winter. For years, Sean Hayes was a Ski Patroller and Ski Instructor with the Smugglers’ Notch Adaptive Program. Sean loved to help people and was passionate about everything he did. He was a Ski Instructor before becoming a Ski Patroller. Sean would adjust his patrol schedule so that he could switch back to the Smugglers’ Notch Adaptive Program and ski with people he had worked with in the past. Sean was a deep-sea fisherman traveling hundreds of miles into the ocean before joining the Smuggs family. Sean loved to make people laugh and smile by telling a joke or two. One of the best things about Sean was how he made you want to be a better person because he led by example! Sean, you will always be missed and never forgotten!

Tomorrow is the last day of the 2023 – 2024 Season. We plan to have the Madonna I Lift and Sterling Lift operating. We plan to open both lifts at 9 am. There is some walking required to get to the lift from Lot #1, but you can ski or ride back. We plan to have 24 trails open with terrain for intermediates and experts. Tonight’s forecast calls for a mix, turning to snow on top with a couple of inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is partly sunny skies early with rain developing later, a high of 46 degrees at the base, and 41 degrees at higher elevations. Get it while you can!

Uphill update:

Uphill travel is closed tomorrow.

Today, we have the Sterling Lift operating. We have 26 trails open for intermediates and experts. Fantastic spring conditions! We have some nasty weather headed our way for tomorrow and Friday. Lift operations will be closed on April 11th and 12th. We will reopen on Saturday. This weekend, we plan to have the Madonna I Lift and the Sterling Lift operating. The last day of the season is Sunday, April 14th.

The temperatures rose fast today, reaching 52 degrees at the summit and 65 degrees at the base. It was a day for sunscreen and trying to find the right wax. My favorite runs of the day were Smugglers’ Alley and Snake Bite. The steep pitches allowed you to power through the heavier snow. Tomorrow, we plan to have the Sterling Lift operating. We have 30 trails open with terrain for intermediates and experts. 8 trails will be groomed for tomorrow; that’s 38 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 10 to 36 inches. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with showers, a high of 52 degrees at the base, and 46 degrees at higher elevations. Wear something waterproof tomorrow and enjoy the soft conditions. Lift operations will be closed on Thursday, April 11th, and Friday, April 12th. The weather looks pretty nasty for these two days, so we won’t be missing much. We plan to have both the Madonna I Lift and the Sterling Lift operating this weekend! The last day of the season is Sunday, April 14th.