Today I headed to Smuggler’s Notch for the first time this season. This visit came on the heels of a storm this past Friday that brought rain to the Northeast, even at higher elevations. The storm had an impact on the snowpack and surface conditions. It is what it is, but overall, I thought the skiing today was pretty good, all things considered.

Mount Mansfield seen from Upper Rumrunner.

I’ve had a Bash Badge to Smuggler’s Notch for three seasons now. This year it was $120. The badge makes full-day tickets to Smuggler’s Notch $30 all season and half-day tickets $20. It’s a great deal, and one that allows me to visit the mountain a few times each season. I really enjoy skiing at Smuggler’s Notch. The terrain is great, and there’s a good mix. They’ve got some fun groomers, bumped up runs and great trees. On top of that, this is a mountain that I think is underrated in the view category. The views of the surrounding mountains, including Mount Mansfield, are spectacular. I’ve included two pictures from last December. They’re not great, but they provide a look at some of what you’ll see skiing here.

Smuggler’s Notch is divided up into three mountains: Morse Mountain, which is kind of like a beginner area; Madonna Mountain; and Sterling Mountain. The Morse Mountain area is fine, but most people (intermediates and experts) going to Smuggler’s Notch will spend their day at Sterling Mountain and Madonna Mountain, with Madonna being the main show. Madonna Mountain wasn’t open today, but Sterling Mountain was.

One very important thing to know about Smuggler’s Notch is that Madonna Mountain and Sterling Mountain are serviced by old, fixed-grip double chairlifts. Regardless of the mountain you’re heading up, it’s a long ride, and when it’s windy like it was today, it can be pretty chilly. Fortunately, I only found myself getting really cold toward the end of my rides up the Sterling Lift.

Conditions were mostly fast and firm on the groomers and runs that just had natural snow cover. It wasn’t terribly icy though, and you could hold an edge basically everywhere. The bumped runs, I thought, were actually kind of fun. One that I remember well was Harvey’s Hideaway. Sure, the snow wasn’t soft, but it wasn’t just firm blue ice either. This meant that I could ski through them without sliding all over the place with every turn.

There weren’t many named glades open off Sterling, but that was okay because the Highlander Glade was. This is a glade that I always find myself in a time or two when I ski Smugg’s. It’s decently long, there are a couple of steep spots and the trees are well spaced. I was worried about what coverage would be like today, as well as the snow conditions overall, but it ended up being great. Coverage was fine and the snow was decent enough. I skied it six or seven times. I couldn’t get enough. I also ventured in to some unmarked trees a time or two as well, and found the conditions in those to also be fairly good.

It was great to check out Smuggler’s Notch today and I’m already looking forward to my next visit, which will likely be on a day when Madonna Mountain is open, but you never know. I could go there before that. As I mentioned in yesterday’s report, I’m off this week for the holidays and I’ll be skiing around Vermont all week. I’m not sure where I’m headed tomorrow yet. It could be Jay Peak or somewhere on my Ikon Pass. Stay tuned!

Never Quit Skiing,

Lincoln

SKIING BUMPS AND TREES AT SMUGGLER’S NOTCH

FAST AND FIRM CONDITIONS AT WHITEFACE