Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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It’s snowing!

Posted January 24, 2019 at 5:16 pm

Snow flying

It was pretty warm today and some of the natural snow covered trails had to be closed. The snow was just too soft. The temperature fell throughout the day and it started snowing this afternoon. The new snow will help insulate the existing snow as the temperatures get colder tonight. This will help the moisture drain from the snow. This will also allow the existing snow to bond with the new snow. On my last run of the day up Sterling it started snowing at tower 11. It was snowing pretty hard at the top and it was accumulating. We may open more trails throughout the day tomorrow.

It is adding up

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 variable and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Drifter, Snow Snake, and Practice Slope for a grand total of 133 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Lenny having fun on Black Snake

Weather

Currently it is snowing and 30 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is snow showers 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with temperatures between 14 and 25 degrees.

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100 percent open

Posted January 23, 2019 at 10:52 am

Alex Martin of Smuggs TV having fun filming on Madonna Mountain this morning

Lifts and Trails

We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 30 to 64 inches. 35 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, Ruthie’s, and Black Snake for a grand total of 140 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

New Snow

We received 1 to 2 inches of new snow this morning and 29 inches in the past 6 days.

Weather

Currently it is 21 degrees at the summit of Sterling with flurries and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for light snow 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with temperatures between 20 and 31 degrees.

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Here comes some new snow in the new year

Posted December 31, 2018 at 7:23 am

The forecast from the National Weather Service

Today

A 30 percent chance of snow after 5 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight

Snow before 2 am, then rain and snow between 2 am and 5 am, then rain after 5 am. Temperature falling to near 26 by 9 pm, then rising to around 36 during the remainder of the night. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

New Year’s Day

Rain and snow showers, becoming all snow after 9 am. Temperature falling to around 25 by 5 pm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Lifts and Trails

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We now have 38 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails have been groomed for today, including Lower FIS, Black Snake, and Magic Learning Trail for a grand total of 116 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Dixie’s Knoll, Sam’s Run, Snow Snake, Lower Morse Liftline, and Hibernator.

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Winter Wonderland

Posted December 27, 2018 at 5:26 pm

Dominic taking in the views from the summit of Madonna for the first time. The Presidential Range in New Hampshire is seen in the distance to his left.

New Snow

We received 2 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 10 inches in the past 6 days, and 139 inches this season so far.

Snowmaking

We are presently making snow on Meadowlark and Lower Chilcoot. Snowmaking will continue on these two trails tonight.

Lifts and Trails

Weather permitting tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 30 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Lower FIS, Curley’s Cutback, and Black Snake for a grand total of 108 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Summit of Madonna Mountain

Weather

Currently it is partly cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of freezing rain from around 7 am till 11 am, then a chance of rain after 11 am with temperatures between 27 and 40 degrees. Temperatures will increase throughout the day tomorrow.

Snowmaking continues on Lower Chilcoot

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from the Madonna I lift

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Getting the mountains ready for you to ski or ride

Posted December 27, 2018 at 7:57 am

New snow being cleared from the ramp of the Village Lift

More Open Terrain

Full Nelson and Highlander Glades are now open. Rumor has it that the skier’s left side of Full Nelson is pretty nice.

New Snow

We received 1 to 2 inches of light fluffy snow overnight, 10 inches in the past 6 days, and 139 inches this season so far!

Lifts and Trails

Today 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 29 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails have been groomed for today including Black Snake, Sam’s Run, and Waterfall for a grand total of 109 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Groomer Dickie Guyette laying down some fresh corduroy on Meadowlark

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Lower Chilcoot and Meadowlark. Snowmaking will continue today on Lower Chilcoot. There are still a few snow guns running on Meadowlark this morning.

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for sunny skies with increasing clouds and temperatures between 12 and 24 degrees.

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Happy Holidays

Posted December 24, 2018 at 4:27 pm

Snow

Snow Sport University Ski Instructor John Kurowski is all smiles over the new snow

We received 1 to 2 inches of new snow today, 6 inches in the past 3 days, and 135 inches of snowfall this season!

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 27 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. All 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 101 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Snowmaking

Lift Operator Rusty Freeman out having fun on his day off

Today we made snow on Meadowlark, Mulcahy’s Link, Black Snake, Snake Bite, and the Practice Slope. Tonight we plan to make snow on Mulcahy’s Link and Lower Madonna Liftline.

Weather

Currently it is snowing and 26 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with temperatures between 11 and 24 degrees.

Pictured yourself here

Who is that loading chairs at Madonna I?

Snowmaking and natural snowfall today

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Early morning grooming and snowmaking

Posted December 24, 2018 at 7:32 am

Groomers on Mulcahy’s Link

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Black Snake, Mulcahy’s Link, Snake Bite, Practice Slope, and Meadowlark. Snowmaking will continue today on these open trails, so if you plan on skiing or riding these trails don’t forget your goggles.

Lifts and Trails

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 27 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 26 trails have been groomed for today, that’s 96 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 36 inches.

Weather

Currently it is cloudy and 18 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of light snow this afternoon and temperatures between 19 and 31 degrees.

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The Village Lift is now open for the season

Posted December 15, 2018 at 8:18 am

Mountain Operations Manager Mike McAdoo and the crew from the Village Lift putting the finishing touches on the loading ramp

Lifts and Trails

Today we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, Madonna I Lift, VillageLift, Sterling Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider. 23 trails have been groomed for today, including Garden Path, Black Snake, and Upper Chilcoot for a grand total of 102 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Some trails are closed due to overnight temperature changes. Snow in the forecast will allow more terrain to open in the near future. Today we have 54 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are variable and machine groomed with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches.

Weather

Currently it is foggy and 31 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 15 mph. Today ‘s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with increasing sunshine later in the day and temperatures between 31 and 39 degrees. There is snow in the forecast for Sunday night into Monday with a couple inches of accumulation possible. The forecast is calling for colder temperatures at the beginning of this week and we plan to resume snowmaking at that time.

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Corduroy is back in fashion

Posted December 14, 2018 at 8:12 am

Lower Morse Liftline

18 trails have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley and Black Snake for a grand total of 75 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Today we have 3 lifts operating; Sterling Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider with 35 trails open. This weekend we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 65 trails open.

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More terrain will be open this weekend

Posted December 12, 2018 at 5:26 pm

Tony having fun in the woods

Lifts and Trails

This weekend we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 66 trails open. We also plan to have the Birch Run Terrain Park this weekend. Tomorrow we plan to have 3 lifts operating: Sterling Lift, Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift, and Sir Henry’s Glider. For tomorrow we plan to have 35 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 15 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Black Snake, the Practice Slope, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 70 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 20 to 50 inches.

Snow Reporter checking base deths

Snow

We received 4 inches of new snow today and 22 inches in the past week. This morning’s cooler temperatures made for some amazing blower powder. The season snowfall total is now 122 inches! Today we made snow on Birch Run, Curley’s Cutback, Dixie’s Knoll, and Sam’s Run. Tonight we are making snow on Dixie’s Knoll, Midway, Sam’s Run, and Lower Morse Liftline.

Dave enjoying the fresh snow

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 8 degrees at the summit of Sterling Mountain with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 19 and 29 degrees.

Matt cruising down the Highway