Hugh's Views - Smugglers' Notch Vermont

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Snowmaking in progress

Posted January 14, 2019 at 2:02 pm

Meadowlark

We are presently making snow Lower FIS, Link to Sterling, and Meadowlark. Lower FIS is closed today for snowmaking, so that we can build the Flowground in the near future. The Flowground will have subtle terrain features like rolls, berms, and banks. These features are perfect for preparing intermediate skiers and riders for more challenging terrain. Snowmaking continues tonight on Lower FIS, Lower Madonna Liftline, Link to Rumrunner, Snake Bite, and the Zone.

Land guns and Tower guns on Lower FIS

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 75 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 34 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Ruthie’s, Snow Snake, and Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 136 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches.

Snowmaking piles are getting big on Lower FIS

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 12 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 1 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees.

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Beautiful sunny skies with snowmaking clouds

Posted January 7, 2019 at 8:18 am

Morning glow over the Village

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Dixie’s Knoll, Sam’s Run, Log Jam, Hibernator, Snow Snake, Sir Henry’s, and the base area of Morse. Snowmaking continues today on Hibernator, Snow Snake, and Log Jam. Snow Snake and Log Jam is closed today due to snowmaking.

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 68 trails open today with terrain for all ability levels. 28 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper Drifter, Wanderer, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 120 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 44 inches. Birch Run Terrain Park and Lower Knight’ Revenge Terrain Park are open.

Natural Snowfall

We received 4 inches of new snow in the past 36 hours, 16 inches in the past week, and 159 inches this season so far. We have snow in the forecast starting tonight into Thursday with up to a foot of accumulation possible. We could see 2 to 4 inches of accumulation tonight and another inch during the day tomorrow. Tuesday night could bring 1 to 3 inches of snow with another 3 to 5 inches of accumulation during the day on Wednesday.

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Snowfall totals increase

Posted January 2, 2019 at 4:23 pm

The forecast from the National Weather Service

B.F.A. St. Albans High School Snowboard Team at the summit of Madonna Mountain

Tonight

Light snow, mainly after 1 am. Low around 13. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Thursday

Light snow, mainly before 10 am. High near 25. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Snowmaking on Upper FIS

Lifts and Trails

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We now have 35 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. The new snow that is forecast will allow us to open over 40 trails tomorrow. 31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Snow Snake, Upper Chilcoot, and Snake Bite for a grand total of 123 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and variable with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches.

Board meeting on Lower Morse Liftline

Snowmaking

Our snowmakers are still busy on Upper FIS tonight. I want to thank our snowmakers for making some fantastic snow on Upper FIS today! I had a blast playing on the snowmaking piles. We plan to shut down the snowmaking on Upper FIS early tomorrow morning.

Great snow on Upper FIS

Snowmaking Glaze Happiness

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Sunny today and snow later

Posted January 2, 2019 at 7:48 am

The forecast from the National Weather Service is:

Tonight

Light snow, mainly after 1 am. Low around 13. Wind chill values as low as -7. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday

Light snow likely before 11 am, then a chance of snow showers, mainly between 11 am and 3 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Mountain Operations Manager Mike McAdoo took this photo of Upper Chilcoot with the sun lighting up the snow covered trees

Lifts and Trails

Today 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. All 30 trails have been groomed for today, that’s a grand total of 122 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are machine groomed and loose granular with average base depths of 12 to 40 inches. Snow Snake will have a delayed opening this morning. Upper FIS may be open later today.

Snowmaking

Last night we made snow on Upper FIS. Snowmaking will continue on Upper FIS today.

Weather

Currently it is 4 degrees at the summit of Sterling with sunny skies and winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures between 12 and 24 degrees.

Events

High School Slalom Race January 3, 2019

Lamoille Union High School hosts this event on the Sterling Mountain Practice Slope. All the North Country high schools will be in attendance.

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Two for Tutu Tuesday

Posted January 1, 2019 at 5:03 pm

Gabby and Katie stylin’ beside Sterling.

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Those who follow this page are familiar with custom of the Snow Sport University instructors (and some camp kids too) wearing tutus on Tuesday. Why? Why not! But what’s next… Thermal Thursdays?

SNOWMAKING

The snowmaking guns will be fired up on Upper F.I. S. (aka Fizz) for the next 36 hours.

GROOMING

30 trails totaling 122 acres to be groomed for Wednesday. That includes Smugglers’ Alley.

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Snowmaking in progress

Posted December 30, 2018 at 8:07 am

Lower Morse Liftline

Snowmaking

We are presently making snow on Snow Snake, Garden Path, and Lower Morse Liftline.

New Snow

We received 2 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, 10 inches in the past week, and 143 inches this season so far.

Lifts and Trails

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We have 32 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trail have been groomed for today, including Smugglers’ Alley, Lower Chilcoot, and Dixie’s Knoll 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.

Weather

Currently it is 10 degrees at the summit of Sterling with cloudy skies and winds of 0 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with temperatures between 12 and 28 degrees.

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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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Mountains of adventure and mountains of fun

Posted December 26, 2018 at 5:19 pm

Treasure Run

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 29 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley, Upper Chilcoot, and Log Jam 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.

Thomke’s

Snowmaking

Today our snowmakers were busy on Lower Chilcoot and Meadowlark. Tonight they plan to continue snowmaking on these two trails.

Weather

Currently it is partly sunny and 16 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 0 to 5 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for sunny skies early with increasing clouds later in the day with temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees.

360 in Birch Run Terrain Park

Snow

We received a dusting of new snow this morning, 8 inches in the past 5 days, and 137 inches this season so far!

Old School Daffy

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Clear and Crisp

Posted December 25, 2018 at 4:24 pm

The majesty of Madonna

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Today was a beauty! Bluebird skies and swan white snow!!

SNOWMAKING

Snowmaking continues tonight on Lower Chilcoot on Madonna Mountain.

LIFTS & TRAILS

Skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with terrain for all abilities – 6 lifts, including Madonna I, and 28 trails – for tomorrow.

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Sam’s Run and Jammin’ Sam with Goodtime

Posted December 18, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Snowmaking at the intersection of Sam’s Run and Dixie’s Knoll. You can see the snowmaking guns lining the trails.

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. The Snowmaking Crew has recently been busy on Morse Mountain – the Morse Highlands will see trails opening soon! Skiing on Garden Path and Sam’s Run, I saw the snowguns a-blazin’. These efforts, along with the record natural snowfall, sets us up nicely for the holidays.

Here’s an assessment from that ridin’, slidin’ snowboard man Mike Chait: “How much snow fell last night? Well, as the old saying goes, ‘Hard tellin’ not knowin’!’ Winds caused some havoc on the hill. We’re calling it 5 inches. Could be more. Definitely not less.”

Bootleggers’ Lounge hosts nightly events like the Acoustic Trio, which became the Acoustic Quartet last night. Left to Right: Eli – awesome guitarist, Topher – sitting in on mandolin, the incomparable Jammin’ Sam and Downpour & Smuggs legend Goodtime Charlie (49 years at the Resort and still going strong).

But Smuggs is about so much more than skiing and riding. Our Activities department has many offerings like STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) programs, Tubing, Airboarding, Fireworks, Hot Chocolate at the daily Bonfire, Bingo, Karaoke, and the most excellent live music.