A COLD DAY AT SMUGGLER’S NOTCH

When I woke up this morning I wasn’t sure where I was going to ski. Jay Peak, Sugarbush and Smuggler’s Notch were all on the table. I really wanted to ski at Sugarbush, as the new Heaven’s Gate Lift opened yesterday, but the lift suffered mechanical issues and was on hold this morning. I kept an eye on the conditions report, waiting until about 10 AM before making my decision to go there, after seeing the lift spinning on the webcam.

In dramatic fashion, once I got to Vermont, I made the last-second decision to go a different direction and I ended up at Smuggler’s Notch. Something about it was just speaking to me today. I think the worry of that lift closing down at Sugarbush also played a role.

Yesterday I had a cold day at Jay Peak. Today I had a cold day at Smuggler’s Notch. Temperatures were holding steady in the low single digits at the base and it was even colder as you went up in elevation. It wasn’t very windy, but there was a slight breeze at times. Smuggler’s Notch’s lifts are old and slow, which means the ride up the mountain was a long and cold one.

Aside from the beginner area, Smuggler’s Notch was only spinning the Sterling Lift today, which provides access to Sterling Mountain. Madonna Mountain still isn’t open, but they’re making snow and, based off the whales, it looks like it will open soon. While there’s a lot of great terrain on Sterling Mountain, Madonna is definitely where the premiere terrain is located. Nevertheless, I had a great time today skiing trees and natural snow terrain. With it being a few days before Christmas, and very cold, there was no line for the lift.

Conditions were overall pretty good, but it did, of course, vary from trail to trail. Some of the groomed runs were packed powder, while others were a bit firmer. The same goes for glades. For example, I found the snow in the Highlander Glade to be pretty nice, while the snow in Poacher’s Wood’s was bit icy, though still enjoyable. Overall, coverage on everything that is open is still great, especially for December 22.

The more I ski at Smuggler’s Notch, the more I enjoy it. This place not only has great terrain, but it has some great views and a lot of charm. It’s old school and I love it. Yes, it would be nice if the lifts were high-speed, but at the same time, those slow lifts keep the trails from getting too crowded, which is nice.

Talk to you tomorrow,

Lincoln