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Smugglers Notch Sunday Sunday 3/1

xwhaler

Active member
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
2,943
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Location
Seacoast NH
Smugglers Notch Sunday 3/1

Awesome day at Smuggs on Day #2 of our N Vermont no kid ski wknd.
I love Smuggs, its hard to describe but I get really excited on the road up every time I visit. Its a real skiers mountain but unpretentious and understated. They market themselves as the premier family resort in the East and while Morse Mtn is an exceptional area, Smuggs is so much more than that.
Reminds me of my other love, Saddleback, in the shadow of the Loaf in many ways.
Smuggs draws a different clientele than Stowe but it always delivers.
Knowing Canadian vaca week started yesterday I knew early tracks before the crowds showed up were key.
We got an early start and boarded Sterling at 8:02. 3 runs on Sterling then 2 on M1 before a warm up at top of Sterling. Ski on for first 5 runs was awesome...where was everyone?
Groomers were tremendous early on with Rumrunner and Thomkes providing just perfect cord to rip on. Chilcoot is probably the best groomer in New England with its views and S turns...just an awesome trail. My wife, Tobyski, did it a half dozen times today.
After the quick warm up we skied down and found everyone.
M1 lines building to 15+ mins. We did 9 runs pre lunch then headed in for a burger and a couple Fiddleheads....feet frozen solid by this point.
After lunch I did some natural runs. Docs was huge bumps but not overly enjoyable as they were really slick and troughs icy, rocky.
Upper FIS from catwalk was decent with soft bumps tho interspersed with windblown ice.
Hit Freefall last run and was a mix of frozen waterfalls, rock, ice and soft powder. Definately less snow up in N VT than back home in S NH but hopefully March delivers the goods up North.
Challenging for sure but the soft portions made it worthwhile.
Stowe has their "Front 4" but Smuggs "Fab 5" are the real deal and I still havent skied Liftline or Robins.
Great day overall, I always love hitting Smuggs.
Just an amazing vibe with terrain that humbles yet puts a big smile on our faces every single time!
On to Sugarbush tomorrow for hopefully some powder turns!
 

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Last edited:

snobrdr13

New member
Joined
Feb 26, 2015
Messages
7
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0
TRIPLE BLACK DIAMOND??! I didn't know there was such a thing! Is it upside down?
 

frapcap

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
364
Points
16
Nice man! I really love skiing there- and you nailed it by calling it a fantastic, understated mountain. The trees there rock, too.
 
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