Smuggs Jan 19-25

[SKIQUATTRO]

DATES: JAN 19-25
RESORT: SMUGGLERS NOTCH
CONTIDIONS: POWDER, HARDPACK, MANMADE
CREW: ME, THE WIFE, 4YR OLD, 19 MO OLD

19TH FRIDAY: Picked up Mrs. Quattro at work and was wheels up at 3:30PM to make sure we got off the Island. Smooth trip through CT, kids were happy watching movies, the wife and I talking about everything! Stopped around 7PM in Rocky Hill CT at On The Boarder for some Mexican. Ate, changed the little ones into their PJ's, fueled up the Armada, got a Starbuck and was back on 91N at 830PM. Light traffic, good driving until about exit 4 on 91N in VT: Snowing, black ice...several cars spun around, lights coming out of ditches, police and tow trucks abound...was slow going from then on, got worse when we hit 89, close to white out conditions prevailed, everyone took it slow and left enough space between cars. Got off exit 10 STOWE to refuel, I dont like getting much past a half a tank that far north late at night in those condtions knowing i have another hour to Smuggs. There was a solid 6-8" in the Mobil lot. The journey from Stowe to Smuggs was slow, couldnt tell where the road was (the GPS did help calculating some bends in the road) all in all, just took it slow and we pulled into Smuggs at 1:00AM (9.5hrs). By the time we unpacked the truck and settled in it was 2:30AM

SAT: Up with the 4yr old at 530..she was amped for ski camp (she was there last year) had some breakfast, the view from the our condo's sliders revealed 8-10" new snow and blowing hard, Smuggs TV reporting below 0 temps with -20+ windchills. By 7:45 we were all geared up, put the 2 little ones in the sled and it was up to Treasures Day Care to sign our 19mo in then back down the hill to sign in our 4yr old to ski camp. Once that was done, Mrs. Quattro and i were on the shuttle up to Madonna/Sterling by 9:30 (Midway was not open on Saturday so we couldnt ski from Moorse to Madonna) It was COLD, wind was at our backs on the lifts, but in our faces on the way down, gusts were easily 25mph, no lift closures though, not one!! We took 3 runs on Sterling and headed in to warm up, took another 3 off Madonna and headed in for lunch and a Prohabition Ale!! Skiied until about 3 and called it a day: some whitespots on the nose and frozen digits. Conditions were great, lots of fresh snow, windblown hardpack, not alot of ice. We did Poachers Glades, Doc Dempseys, Red Fox Glades to stay out of the wind..great first day. Homemade Lasagna, Boogie Nights, a few Stellas and it was a early night for all

SUNDAY: Up at 6 and some sun peaking though, less wind, but still cold (-15 wind chills). The Mrs. and I were on the Moorse Lift at 9:15 heading up to Midway to ski down to Madonna/Sterling (I hate taking busses/shuttles when skiing) We bounced all over from Madonna to Sterling, out Catwalk to Shuttle, skied hard to keep warm, conditions again were great, between the snowmaking and natural, there were knee deep pow shots all week! Smuggs doesnt do alot of groom which we both love, keep it natural! Headed back to the condo at 12:15 for lunch as we also knew that our 4 yr olds ski camp would be taking their last run on Moorse before heading into lunch. So we pearched behind a little school house on the side of the trail and there they came, 8 of em wedgin right behind one another, hitting some burms, jumps, was so cool to see...she is skiing unbelievalbly well.....After some hot chilii and chips it was back to Madonna/Sterling until 4. I picked up the little one at day care and skiied back with her in my arms to the condo (the day care is half way up the trail so you can litteraly ski to it, walk in, check on the kids, and ski away) the wife picked up the 4yr old a ski camp and it was off the the Fun Zone..then a 7PM dinner at the Hearth and Candle...great meal, good wine, good service...kids fell asleep at 720 in the booth, so we had a very nice relaxing meal (2 bottles of Pinot Noir later!!!!)

Monday: some snow overnight 2-3" and 18-20 degrees and no wind, great day. Again were were skiing by 915, Smuggs was dropping ropes and opening trails left and right, Sat there were 35 trails, today 44 and counting....skiied really hard all over the mountain, popped back to the condo for lunch, then back out unil 2 when we skiied back to Moorse to pick up our 4yr old to take a few runs with her (you can pick them up at 2 or they will keep them unitl 4 and do movies, science shows, magic shows...its great) we took 2 more runs with Kaitlyn from top of Moorse and of course, she had to be the leader and showed us where all the cool terrain hits were all the way down...soooooo cool to ski behind your 4yr old taking jumps!! Finally back to the condo around 415, to the pool/hot tub, dinner at the condo......great day

Tuesday:Sunny/P Cloudy 25 degrees, a skiing day!! Smuggs TV reporting even more trails opening, we were stoked to get out and hit some fresh lines, Upper FIS was the trail of the day, soft, steeps, blowing on the leftside, hugh whalebacks forming, we hit it at least 5 times....the lower part was still closed to snomaking, but the cut off dumped you into the lower section of Docs glades which was the best part, the upper was good, but not alot of snow due to the steepness not holding it. Popped in for lunch at 1 into the Pup at the Madonna base for some hot sandwiches and an Ale......beautiful day, still alot of fresh snow to find all over the mountain, trail count now pushing 50...we skiied until the last chair....back to the condo for a quick snack and gatoraide with the kids as tubing was at 5...great fun, its free, they supply the tubes and a lift up the hill on the magic carpet, then we grabbed a pizza (that was free too as we were returing guests, there was like 5 free things to choose) put the kids to bed and started packing as we were checking out and leaving Wed.

WED: snowed overnight 3-4 base/5" summit...26-30 degrees no wind and more trails opening.....best day of the week, snow was hero snow, could do no wrong, the trees had fresh pow (sooooo light and dry) they didnt groom a thing, we hit everywhere hard as it was the last day....grabbed a snickers for at noon and kept skiing....headed back to moorse around 3, grabbed the 4 yr old and took her on 3 more runs...she was so excited to show us what she learned...Smuggs did a great job with her again this year...grabbed a coffee and was on the road back to LI at 4:30PM, home at 11:30PM...GREAT TRIP, Great Conditions

[MrMagic]

a great report!!!!

sounds like you guys had a good time. smuggs is a great mtn. you get to do a lot of skiing there.

thanks

[campgottagopee]

Yup, great report Smuggs is waaaayyyyyy cool, and has some bangin' terrain especially ifin you no where to look. Ski bummed up there for 4 yrs after college (late 80's) and had a blast.

[wintersyndrome]

Sounds like you hit it at the right time...nice reporting!

Now where are those 25 knot gusts on Manhasset bay in August?