Explore Smuggs Magazine winter 2014/15

THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE MOUNTAIN LIFESTYLE

WINTER TWENTY FOURTEEN/FIFTEEN VOLUME TWENTY THREE

Isn’t it time to vacation your way?

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Y

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MY

CLUB WYNDHAM® Plus owners can:

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CMY

e Choose the unit size that’s right for your vacation, from one to four bedrooms

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e Travel to any of the 80 plus vacation ownership resorts without paying an exchange fee e Enjoy perks like early check-in and mid-stay cleaning with CLUB WYNDHAM VIP ownership e Participate in weekend events at many of our popular resort destinations e Be treated like an owner wherever you choose to travel!

Visit us at the Village Center or call extension 1253 today to learn more.

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0043-14 8/14

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6 Free Cider Donuts with every $25 purchase

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Got Kids?

Winter, Summer, or Fall, Smugglers’ Notch Vermont has everything you need for guaranteed kids’ fun!

Call 1.877.705.5793 smuggs.com/esm

to begin planning your next Smugglers’ family vacation! explore • 5

Explore Smuggs Magazine winter 2014/2015 Creative Design & Layout: Priscilla Emerling Advertising: Steve Clokey 802-644-1119 • sclokey@smuggs.com Printing: The Offset House – Essex, VT Contributors: Karen Boushie • Rebecca Klein • Justin Marsh Editor: Karen Boushie Copy Editor: Stacy Maynard Cover & contents photos: Jim Deshler, deshlerphotography.com Smugglers’ Notch Resort 4323 Route 108 South Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464 802-644-8851 • 1-800-451-8752 • www.smuggs.com Printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper. When you are finished reading your copy of Explore Smuggs magazine, please pass it along to a friend or dispose of it in an appropriate recycling container. ©2014/2015 All rights reserved. Any reproduction of articles or other features of this magazine is prohibited without written permission of the publisher. America’s Family Resort is a service mark and Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont, Smuggs, FamilyFest, Snow Sport University and Summer Fun University are registered service marks of Smugglers’ Notch Resort.

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10 articles

Best Day on Snow!

14

Take Me Down to Bageltown

30

DateNight (or day) Smuggs-style

42

Making Tracks on the Mountain

50

From Morse to Madonna

58

CONTENTS

Welcome

departments

Chowtime

64

Events

74

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W

e are an independent bookstore with a thoughtful selection of new and used books, high-quality toys, music, fine art and chocolate.

Special orders for books always welcome!

Open MOnday – Saturday 10am to 6pm Call for Sunday hours

ebenezer bOOkS 2 LOwer Main Street weSt, JOhnSOn, Vt 05656

802.635.7472 Visit us on Facebook!

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MUSIC available: 3 Mountain Outfitters, the Country Store, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and more.

Get yours today!

Available at the Country Store.

explore • 9

welcome Welcome to Smugglers’! On behalf of each member of our resort staff family, my best wishes to you for a wonderful winter getaway.

Our winter starts early, with planning and development of our programming underway months before the actual start of the season. A sign that the season is approaching is the publication of the SKI Magazine Resort Guide, which shares rankings of resorts based on categories of value to the magazine readers’ overall experience. You may know that Smugglers’ has been honored in the past by SKI readers with 15 years of recognition as #1 for our family programs. This year, SKI made a change to the survey that eliminated the family vacations category and added a new category, kid friendly. Smugglers’ is the first resort to receive a #1 ranking as the top resort in the Eastern U.S. and Canada in this new category — such an honor. We are also appreciative of our rating as #1 resort overall in the Eastern U.S. From SKI reader survey comments, we know that the new #1 Kid Friendly Resort ranking reflects their confidence in our Snow Sport University children’s programs and our family activities designed to please all ages. Being kid friendly is part of our decades-long overall commitment to families. From the coloring table at check-in, to our outstanding nursery and ski & ride children’s programs, to our unique indoor FunZone, to the hugs dispensed by Mogul Mouse and Billy Bob Bear, we try to make the Smugglers’ experience extra special for kids. This winter we’ve tailored the ski and ride instruction experience to better support our youngest students, with two separate groups for 3 and 4 year old preschoolers and 5 and 6 years olds. Our age-specific programs are innovative in the industry and serve toddlers to teens. What are your kids’ highlights at Smugglers’? We’d love to know; give us a shout on social media.

In this issue of Explore Smuggs, you’ll hear from some of our ski and snowboard instructors about their best day supporting a student on snow; enjoy these heartwarming and inspiring stories. You can also read about a new bagel shop just down the road with uniquely Vermont bagels that will tempt you with — you guessed it — maple syrup as a secret ingredient. Another story identifies three opportunities for a date night (or day) with your partner while we take care of the kids. Please don’t miss the story of a beginner on skis who progressed from Morse to Madonna with guidance from our instructors. And finally, if you’ve ever watched the groomers and secretly wished for a ride, that wish can be easily fulfilled by jumping onboard the Cat Trax Express, the cabin groomer tour launched last winter. An interview with one of the drivers gives insight into the tour experience.

Enjoy your time in our mountain community; I hope Explore Smuggs magazine guides you to many memorable adventures!

Bill Stritzler Owner and managing director

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We look forward to hosting your celebration at Boyden Farm!

WEDDINGS • CONCERTS • REUNIONS PICNICS • CORPORATE EVENTS

Located at the intersection of Routes 15 & 104 in Cambridge, Vermont. Contact us for availability.

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802.598.5509 | boydenfarm.com

Bring the fresh aroma of your favorite blend home with Smugglers’ signature blend coffee Higher Grounds. Smugglers’ Notch and Mountain Grove Coffee have partnered to provide the finest special blends only available at the Country Store.

Stop by and get yours today!

The Country Store is located in the Village Center.

Open daily, 7:30 am - 10:00 pm

From Everyday to Gourmet

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best day r u o y t u o b ry a hare a sto Will you s ent? sports stud w o n s a g supportin and f our ski o w e f a n to t at questio h t d e s show tha o s p e li p We e r heir uctors. T r t s in d e to r a snowbo ’t do justic n s e o d y ll rea ure, “lesson” uction. S r t s the word in s t r owspo n nce of sn ie r e p x e proving o the im r o g in arn is about le the n o s s le e g. But as th in it c x e is elf an that in its d n a , ls a lesson c il , k w s o h s s torie , est day” s b “ g challenge in , w n io t a follo r plo llment, ex lfi u f t u o b ip. Above h s d n ie also be a r f , and creativity t , e c n e d n he studen t t a h indepe t e c rien is an expe n o s s le e artners in P . all, th s r e n t r as pa or share t c y the u r t s in defined b and is e m o c t l ou successfu . e h t h ic h e student w h t f o s d e d ne l goals an individua

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best day continued ...

Alisa Anderson

Last

season I had the pleasure of working with a guest who was an avid skier at Smuggs before his stroke. His good friend Terry signed him up for an adaptive lesson with SNAP in hopes of getting him back on skis. As a result of the stroke, George lost some sight, along with some weakness on the left side. Before his stroke George enjoyed skiing Madonna and Sterling. The two friends shared the goal of skiing together again; Terry really wanted to learn to guide George.

First, we needed to see if the weakness on George’s left side could be supported with use of adaptive equipment. Next was to assess his sight and figure out what guiding techniques would give George the independence he wanted, while keeping him and the people around him safe. Terry’s job was to watch and learn.

Once we got off the Village lift it all seemed to come back to George, just like riding a bike. Even though his left side was a bit weak, together with use of his right side, George was able to ski parallel. Terry was behind us cheering George on like they were boys again and George had hit a home run in a Little League game. George and I eventually had to tell Terry to be quiet so we could focus on skiing. I started by skiing in front of George with my fluorescent green guide vest. I asked George to try and keep me in his field of vision as I moved down the slope. George was able to follow me with little trouble. Once George and I found a rhythm, Terry was chomping at the bit to give it a try. I love helping students gain back their independence and helping them realize that even though many things have changed in their lives, they can still get out on the mountain and experience the thrill.

— Alisa Anderson, adaptive program manager

Sherm White

My

private lesson student Jane had skied Smugglers’ before, so we headed up Sterling for the first run. On the lift, we talked about her reasons for taking a lesson. It appeared that she had a low opinion of her skiing, and her main goal was to feel more comfortable skiing with her family and friends on the more difficult terrain they liked to ski.

We went down Black Snake, so I could see how she handled more difficult terrain, and it was clear that she was a better skier than she thought. I gave her a couple of small tips, and mostly worked on boosting her confidence.

The rest of the session we alternated between tweaking her skiing, skiing steeper terrain, and even, after some coaxing, skiing some glades, which she had never done before. Whenever she got negative, I would talk her through it and refocus her on practicing the small changes we were working on.

At the end of our session, I asked her to summarize what she had learned, and encouraged her to keep practicing and stay positive. The next day, I was standing at the meeting area when Jane skied up to me with her kids and husband. She started gushing about the great runs they had just had together in the woods. Just seeing that joy and enthusiasm from her new confidence is what makes my job so great.

— Sherm White, ski instuctor

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When

asked to talk about my “best day” supporting snowsports students (say that five times fast), what first popped into my head was an experience I had in a private ski lesson with a brother and sister, both in their early teens.

Upon introduction on hill, the two explained to me that they were level 8 skiers, had been skiing at Smugglers’ since they were little, and knew the whole mountain. To illustrate their knowledge, they listed for me, “We’ve skied F.I.S, Doc’s, Highlander Glades, and Black Bear.” Ski and snowboard instructors always listen for verbal clues when first talking to a guest, and then tailor the coaching accordingly.

In this particular case it sounded like they were looking for more of a guide than a regimented left and right turn clinic. These type of lessons are great for me, because I too have been skiing at Smuggs my entire life, know the mountain well, and take it as a challenge to myself to show or teach the guest something new.

Not wanting to waste any time we hopped on the Madonna I lift. To confirm their level, I followed the two from the top down to Catwalk in order to assess their turns, and indeed they were level 8 skiers as they finely arced ‘em down the fall line. We then cruised over to F.I.S. and worked on using our poles more effectively in the moguls by making the pole plant before each turn and using the pole as something to turn around. We zipped down the skiers’ left side of F.I.S. and over to lower Doc Dempsey’s. This section of the gladed trail has a fairly mellow

Matt McCawley slope with big spacing between the trees, so we worked on planning ahead of the turn that’s currently being done, and keeping our eyes forward, looking down the hill. We gracefully made our way down, surely impressing the handful of onlookers getting off at the top of Madonna II. From there I said, “Follow me,” and played a game of follow the leader down the Northwest Passage and into the glade Bermuda. This section of the mountain is often overlooked, but has some fantastic skiing and beautiful scenery. We finally got to the bottom after minutes of weaving and bobbing around trees using the obstacles and terrain shape like a bobsled run. I noticed the siblings had a puzzled look on their faces. “Are you two okay?” I

asked, and they answered by saying that they had never skied that part of the mountain, and wanted to get right back up and ski Bermuda again! So, we hopped on the Madonna II lift and lapped Bermuda for the rest of the lesson, playing with different turns and lines in the woods.

We didn’t do excessive drills for turn shape, we didn’t ski in a line snaking down groomed terrain. We just went out and skied, did some exploring, and the result was a fun experience while learning a little something new. In my eyes, and in theirs, the lesson was a total success.

— Matt McCawley, ski instuctor

We just went out and skied,

did some exploring, and the result was a fun experience while learning a little something new. explore • 17

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best day continued ...

It

Drew Tolbert

was a cold day on the hill so things were a little slow; a little clunky. The young rider and I just wanted some smoother turns — not too much to ask for — but the crunchy snow and our equipment just didn’t want to cooperate. Feeling defeated, we loaded the lift and did a shaking, seated dance to try and warm up quick. On the lift ride, we started talking about hobbies. My snowboarding friend told me about her skills as a tap dancer: the fancy footwork and rhythm that made her a graceful and powerful performer. From there our mission was clear: she just needed to find her own beat and let her feet do the work! Once we figured out that tap moves could be tapped right into the board, it was a whole new song and dance. She was sliding all over the trail with ease. Suddenly it wasn’t so cold and the lift rides were all smiles and laughter. After that I was following her, trying to match her rhythm and admiring the smoothness of her turns. I paused at the top of the last steep pitch to watch her dance casually down the fast slope. Not long ago that same pitch felt like a white knuckle luge track. We cruised down to the Gazebo on Morse to finish the session. This stoked little girl was transformed — she had figured out how to use her other talents to make a breakthrough in her riding. Dancing on her snowboard, she said it was time to learn tricks!

— Drew Tolbert, snowboard instuctor

Have

you ever had that amazing moment when everything seems to come together and you feel like now, you get it?

Several years ago I witnessed one of those breakthrough moments. My student arrived at adult ski school line-up with her boyfriend; let’s call them Linda and Dave. Although Dave was an accomplished skier himself, he knew better than to instruct Linda as that might put a strain on a perfectly good relationship. Smart call!

Linda was a little nervous and anxious as she had previously recovered from an automobile accident. She was also very smart and a bit of an overachiever. Her expectations for her learning and performance would later put additional pressure on her. As we explored various drills and skills, Linda would reach that critical moment of commitment … and freeze. Her response was then to mutter to herself and gently slap her thigh or hip in frustration. Mentally she knew she needed to let go and commit but her inner self wouldn’t let her do it. I often refer to these moments as a “leap of faith” as we need to give in to gravity on a steep hill!

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This reluctance to commit went on for several days. We explored alternative ways to accomplish the same task but no amount of coaching, encouragement nor logical explanation was working. However, this is when the magic happened!

Whether it was a good night’s sleep with dreams of skiing perfectly (visual imagery) or a mental compromise — our brain saying “I’ll let you (body) do this if you promise you won’t hurt us!” — Linda suddenly one morning skied into the task with complete confidence, performance and style. No more stopping, slaps nor mutterings! She skied everywhere on that mountain like she owned it! She went down trails she had only imagined. No problems! To see the confidence and joy she was experiencing is what we instructors live for in our students! This magical moment will live with me and Linda forever! — Walt Lattrell, ski instuctor explore • 19

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best day continued ...

When

I met

Matt, now a 9 year old, when he joined a level 4 group lesson on Morse. Matt quickly demonstrated that he was able to match his skis through most of the turn and with some extra oneon-one time he was skiing parallel on Snow Snake.

I arranged with his mom to do a transition lesson so that Matt could take his new skills to Sterling and Madonna. During our chairlift rides, Matt wasn’t chatty so I took the liberty of giving him the chairlift tour, pointing out sights like Mount Mansfield, Lake Champlain, and Canada. I noted the blue sugaring lines, the number of chairs on the lift, and where the gladed trails were. Apparently, he listened to every word because, according to his mom, he repeated the whole story to his family that evening.

asa

aaaaaaaaasss

The following season, Matt became my ski buddy on his vacation. He had officially outskied his family and wanted to spend some time on Sterling and Madonna. With Matt, every day became an adventure and exploration of trails and terrain. We got a trail map and a highlighter and marked every piece of terrain we skied. By the end of the week we had tackled every open blue trail and a few sections of black terrain. Matt’s trail map was his trophy to hang on his wall at home.

I was first asked to describe my best day teaching snowboarding, I thought I would know the answer right away.

The more I thought about the amazing days I have had as an instructor, I realized I can’t choose a favorite day, lesson, student, or even experience level. Getting people excited about what I love to do is an indescribable feeling, and choosing a favorite moment wouldn’t be fair to all the people who I have helped ignite their love for snowboarding or fall deeper in love with it.

One feeling that I can definitely describe as my favorite, however, is to see the same faces show up to camp or lessons year after year. I have primarily taught the camp programs during my four seasons as a snowboard instructor, which allows me to work with the same students all week. I love being able to watch my student progress throughout the week and even over the years. My first season at Smuggs, I taught on Morse with beginner lessons, teaching the skills it takes to move to the more advanced terrain on Sterling and Madonna.

My second season, I taught almost entirely on Sterling and Madonna where all of my students from the previous winter had moved on to. It was a great feeling to see so many familiar faces showing up ready to take their skills to the next level.

For some people, their one week vacation at Smuggs is all the time they have to snowboard that winter. For some of my students, I am the only person they have ever snowboarded with. I have helped tie up new snowboarders’ boots for the first time and worked with them over the years until we are riding the woods of Sterling and the steeps of Madonna together. It’s an incredible feeling to know that I have made an impact on the lives of new snowboarders and can share their snowboard experience with them for the whole ride.

— Pete Curialle, snowboard instuctor

My favorite part about skiing with Matt is that when we encounter tricky terrain or have a spill in deep snow he gives a “Whoa!” as if he were on a rollercoaster. He approaches everything new with a sense of wonder and excitement as if it was the best day ever even if he ends up eating a face full of snow. Matt reminds me that for our guests, learning new skills is important, but the adventure and experience is ten times more valuable.

— Shawna Fatigate, ski instuctor

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Located in the Village Lodge at Smugglers’.

Open daily  Mon. - Fri. 4pm - 9pm  Sat. & Sun. 12pm - 9pm

a clinic designed for women, by women

Little Rascals ow! on Sn

Introduce your youngest children to the sport of skiing and outdoor Winter fun. Through the progression of this innovative multi-day Little Rascals on Snow program based out of our TREASURES child care center, your children will begin making turns in the snow.

This program was created for 2½ - 3 year olds who are not potty trained but want to learn how to ski. Little Rascals on Snow includes: a full day of TREASURES child care, individual lesson and fun in the snow with their equipment (weather permitting), lunch, rest time and indoor fun! $139/day, includes equipment provided at TREASURES, no need to visit the rental shop. Offered daily, requires advance registration on a space available basis.

Call extension 1180 for more information or to sign-up.

Led by female instructors, the sessions will be filled with skiing and riding tips that focus on differences of how women move on snow.

Wednesdays & Saturdays, Levels 1-9 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, $139 per adult, per day. Lunch included.

“I can thoroughly recommend the Women’s Weekly Clinic! Great fun, but also a fab way to hone your skills!”

— Kate Harper, Smugglers’ Notch guest

Sign up for your Women’s Weekly Clinic today! Extension 1293 22 • explore

best day continued ...

I met Nancy’s mom when she pulled me aside at the meeting area, just prior to when a male ski instructor and I began dividing a group of ten students into two classes.

“Nancy has Asperger’s and can be challenging. She will only take lessons from a female instructor,” she said.

aaaaaaaaasssasa

The supervisor and I assured mom that Nancy could ski with me. When the male instructor and I watched the group ski their first run, Nancy and four other girls, all eleven- and twelve-year-olds, had equal skills. At the end of the run, the other four girls had paired up. Jennifer and Ashley knew each other.

Mary and Olivia met as chair partners first run. I asked Nancy if she would ride the chairlift with me.

After that second run, I hoped to integrate the five individuals into a group.

“Who is stuck riding with me this run?” I asked on the next lift ride.

Olivia seemed to catch on quickly. “I guess I could ride with you,” she said.

My morning class had been a complete contrast to this group. I had eight kids, aged six to nine, who primarily wanted to play in the terrain park. This class was on the cusp between girls and women.

The next run, Olivia said, “I’m riding with Nancy this run.”

“I GUESS I can ride with Deb,” laughed Mary.

On the lift ride, I learned Mary wanted to make it to Level Five.

Greg Fatigate

Diana

was as terrified of her toe-side turn on her snowboard as she was determined to not quit. She had felt the sensation of a smooth arc on a snowboard and knew she was hooked. However, there was a skeleton in her snowboard closet that she couldn’t forget. A fall she took the season past manifested itself in an awkward transition from heel-edge to toe-edge. We called it the pivot kick.

Diana is a thoughtful mother of three children, all of whom I have the pleasure of snowboarding with as well. A professional career woman in her early forties, Diana always sticks out in my mind as someone whose breakthrough is memorable and inspiring.

I like starting out on terrain that my student or group is already comfortable on. So we went to mid-station on the Village lift.

To eliminate the awkward pivot kick, we focused on a long track across the widest part of the hill. We identified what we felt from our board when it was flat on the snow in transition. We also identified what we should feel in the interaction between our shins and the tongues of our boots when we begin to close our ankles. We came to see that this was the feel we needed to make a smooth toe-side turn.

Diana also noted that she liked the longer track we took during the drill. She noted that she typically just stays to the side of the trail. The track we took was nice, long and smooth.

I worked the girls on a series of skills they would need to progress. They rose to the occasion. CLICK! Each of them started making better turns. When the class finished, the five girls asked their parents if they could go take a run together on Morse to practice. I smiled as I said good-bye to the new group of friends and better skiers. That is why I love teaching.

Then came the inspiring part: Because we worked out the terrifying hitch kick, Diana is now able to ride with her kids just about anywhere on the mountain. For her and her family, time on the mountain is precious. Before this, she told me, she couldn’t spend it with them. She is able to focus on the joy of being with them, not the fear of the pivot-kick.

— Deb Fennell, ski instuctor

— Greg Fatigate, snowboard instuctor

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CELEBRATING OUR 20TH SEASON! Enjoy 20% OFF a different category each week all season long!

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Both shops are located on Route 108 next to Smuggs. Take a right out of Smuggs main entrance and No School & Triple Diamond are immediately on your right.

802.644.5853 • noschoolsnowboardshop.com 24 • explore

802.644.2222 • triplediamondskishop.com

best day continued ...

Overnight on Tuesday, Mother Nature delivered what we refer to as “transparent snow” followed by high winds, leaving what I like to call “consistently variable” conditions.

I seem

to have a lot of “best” days every season. They’re not always the ones with the freshest, softest, deepest snow but of course that helps. Some of my best days though have been when skiing with guests on conditions that can best be described as “sporty”; days that challenge our ability to use the skis in ways that we might not have practiced before. They’re the days when we discover new ways to apply the tools (our skis) to deliver that most pleasurable experience we can get from embracing gravity and sliding on snow.

This was actually just what these folks needed to force them out of movement patterns that were appropriate for one particular snow condition but lacked the diversity to adjust to changing surfaces. On our first run we stopped wherever the snow surface changed and strategized about what adjustment to our technique might make us more efficient and effective in the upcoming stretch. By the second run the lead skier was acting as scout and calling out to the others whenever he or she felt a change of surface. Then each skier would yell “Change!” when reaching that point so the following skier would be notified. I’m sure we had bystanders wondering what on earth we were doing but what made this a “best day” for me was when one of the class members was asked what we were doing and he explained with a broad grin, “We’re having a blast.”

aaaaaaaaasssasa

A case in point: Last season I was skiing in the Mountain Experience Program with guests who have skied with me every season for over ten years. I know their strengths and weaknesses very well and they in turn know all my old jokes and witticisms so every new season is a challenge to keep them progressing in their skiing and reasonably entertained at the same time. The week started with a major dumping of snow and conditions that were pretty much ideal. “This is going to be an easy week,” I thought. But this is Vermont and once in a while, a week at a four season resort here will deliver more than one of those four seasons in a week.

— Glen Findholt, ski instuctor

... one of the class members was asked what we were doing and he explained with a broad grin,

“We’re having a blast.”

When ski instructor Matt McCawley sent his story along, he shared a few more thoughts, “The instructors at Smuggs are ready and willing to do whatever it is you are looking to do. We are all knowledgeable and skilled and able to teach techniques in a variety of ways, whether you are putting your skis or snowboard on for the first time, ready for perfect carved turns or exploring the terrain variety at Smugglers’. Lessons at Smugglers’ Notch can be whatever you want them to be.”

Here’s to you being a part of a “Best Day” story.

Stop by the Activities Desk in the Village to learn more about or to sign up for Snow Sport University programs.

SSU programs serve all ages and abilities through children’s full day programs, group lessons for ages 5 to adult, private lessons and special programs like the women’s clinic, Mountain Experience for adult intermediate skiers, Night School for Boarding and Night School for Jibbing. explore • 25

26 • explore

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5/15/12 8:35 AM

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NORTHERN VERMONT’S ONLY OUTLET CENTER

Indulge your sweet tooth during your ski vacation or bring home a thank you gift!

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Directions from Smuggs: Rt. 108 (Mountain Road) to Rt. 15, Turn left on Rt. 15 And follow for approximately 25 minutes to 21 Essex Way in Essex VT. www.essexoutlets.com | 802.878.2851

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www.snowflakechocolate.com 28 • explore

CELEBRATE A GREAT DAY OF SKIING & RIDING WITH CITIZEN CIDER. OR VISIT OUR TASTING ROOM IN BURLINGTON AT 316 PINE STREET.

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Vermont has a special way of taking favorite products in the culinary world and reinventing them as its own. Whether it’s Vermont cheese, Vermont ice cream, or Vermont beer – you can always count on it being some of the best stuff on earth, and different in its unique way. So when you take something like the bagel and you put the Vermont spin on it, the result could quite possibly be the next big Vermont food to sweep the nation!

by JUSTIN MARSH

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I

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t may be hard to imagine a bagel not being associated with New York or Montreal, both of which own their respective famous styles on the food. But when these two styles are combined and then given the Green Mountain State treatment (you guessed it – maple syrup!), the offspring is a winning recipe. And that’s exactly what has been slowly rolling out for the past year as Mtn Seasons has gone from a slow-boiling idea to a fullfledged rapid fire endeavor with the recent opening of their new bagel shop just a quarter of a mile north of the Resort gates.

Mtn Seasons is the byproduct of the efforts of a chef and a farmer, a seemingly perfect match for an eatery. Owners Diane Abruzzini (the farmer), 28, and Jeff Silver (the chef), 45, grew up on the opposite outskirts of New York City and later migrated to Vermont. Abruzzini was raised in Maplewood, New Jersey and attended Skidmore College, receiving her degree in Anthropology of Food Systems.

She moved to Burlington, Vermont in 2009 to work at the Intervale Community Farm.

Since then she’s worked on several farms practicing modern agriculture and hydroponics, and notes, “I’ve worked on really small, six-acre diversified farms all the way up to more expansive 40-acre farms.” In 2011 she moved to Jeffersonville with the intention of starting her own small farm. Renting space from The Farm Between, on Route 15 between Cambridge and Jeffersonville villages, Abruzzini started Beet Box Farm, growing a wide variety of vegetables and herbs. She got her footing in the local food space that summer, bringing her produce around to local restaurants and selling at farmers’ markets.

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Silver, a Rye, New York native, earned a degree in history from the University of Hartford, but found himself honing his cooking skills behind the line in kitchens at Tapas Mediterranean in West Hartford, Connecticut and Vix Café in New York City. He moved to Vermont in 2002 purely to snowboard and has worked at Smugglers’ Notch Resort ever since. During the summers he worked in kitchens across the state including Kitchen Table Bistro in Richmond, Champlain Country Club in Swanton, and The Mix Café in Jeffersonville.

The two met at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, where Silver was a Snow Sport University snowboard supervisor and Abruzzini worked as a snowboard instructor. “In the winters I would work with Jeff, then in the summer I would come into The Mix Café and he would be cooking me breakfast or lunch and I would be selling them my produce,” Abruzzini recalls.

“The idea of Mtn Seasons evolved from our first interactions,” Silver remembers. From there, months of planning and discussion eventually led to the very first bagel, in the summer of 2013.

“He talked a lot of game,” Abruzzini jokes. But the game was backed up with the end product. And things began moving from there. They bought a small outside wood-fired oven to start baking pizzas and bagels for parties with their friends, experimenting with different doughs and perfecting their craft.

So how did the Vermont-style bagel come to be, and what exactly is it? Silver describes it as not as fluffy and blown-out as the New York-style bagel, and not as dense as a Montreal bagel. One striking similarity the Vermont bagel has with its

If a New York style bagel and a Montreal style bagel had a baby, it would be a Mtn Seasons bagel.

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Open year-round 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check website for details.

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at

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relative to the north is the sweet water bath. But while Montreal bagels are typically boiled in a honey-sweetened bath, Vermont bagels get the maple treatment. It helps too that the Vermont bagels start with flour from King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont. The dough is hand-rolled into a ball, and a hole is poked through for a ring. It’s then boiled in the sweet maple water bath, dressed with seeds, herbs and spices, and woodfired.

Over the past year, Mtn Seasons has experienced with a variety of flavors, toppings, and additions. Abruzzini chooses what local and seasonal produce to include based on what area farms have in abundance. The seeds aren’t Vermont-grown and harvested yet – but Abruzzini intends to begin dehydrating their own herbs and seeds within a year or so.

It’s safe to say these two have been a bit busy lately. On top of starting the

business, they have built their brand from the ground up. They created a bagel share, which takes after the community-supported agriculture (CSA) model. Participants pre-paid a certain amount and then each week were given a half-dozen fresh bagels, a new flavor revealed each time. This allowed Silver and Abruzzini time to ramp up and find out what their earliest customers thought so they could tweak and gain a better product. In the summer they began slinging bagels at five different Vermont farmers’ markets and also selling the bagels to The Farm Store in Jeffersonville for retail purchase.

Mtn Seasons had also been working on their permanent space, the former Drifters Deli location, since fall 2013.

Abruzzini and Silver enlisted the help of numerous local woodworkers and masons to completely transform the space. “We totally gutted the place.

We ripped everything out, replaced the plumbing, windows, studs, flooring –

everything. If people remember what this place looked like before, they won’t recognize it when they come in now,” said Abruzzini, adding “Jeff had the reins on the project.” Silver drew on skills developed when he worked for a construction management firm that led many major renovation projects for Connecticut restaurants like Mediterraneo in Greenwich and Acqua in Westport.

“It’s nice to have used all those skills again,” Silver mentioned. The hard work and expertise shows. The centerpiece of the project is easily the oven, which was given a one-of-a-kind façade by their friend and artist Matt Marro.

Mtn Seasons has plans to use the winter season as a continued slow rise, adding in new elements of the business as the weeks pass to ensure their heads stay above water. The menu will start with the basics – bagels with cream cheese

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INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINNING WINES And Our Premier

Products

MAKERS OF Boyden Valley Winery and Spirits is the producer of the Vermont Ice series: Vermont Ice, Vermont Ice Red, Vermont Ice Cider, Vermont Ice Hard Ciders and Vermont Ice Apple and Maple Crème Liqueurs.

Join us for wine tasting and tours and see why we are Making Vermont Famous for Wine.

WINE TASTING & TOURS TRY OUR NEW

Come enjoy our premium grape wines, fruit wines, dessert wines, hard ciders, & spirits.

Free tours daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

MAPLE CRÈME LIQUEUR 64 Vermont Route 104, Cambridge, Vermont 05444 – at the intersection of Route 15 & 104 www.boydenvalley.com • 802.644.8151 • May-Dec: Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Jan-April: Fri-Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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LOCATED ONLY 8 MILES FROM THE RESORT

Located just a ¼ mile from Smugglers’ village, Mtn Seasons is open Thursday through Monday from 6:00 am to 12:00 noon (closed Tuesday and Wednesday).

For more information, visit mtnseasons.com or call (802) 644-5446.

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– and slowly expand to include cold and hot sandwiches, and eventually become full-service. One idea for a potential menu item is a veggie bowl that would include a Mtn Seasons bagel pan-fried and topped with kale, summer squash, capers, and a poached egg on top. Easily a perfect launch before a day on the mountain.

Chalkboard menus reflect a truly everchanging availability of local products.

A constant rotation of artisanal cheeses, local meats, along with housemade pesto, kimchi, and sauces will be featured as additions on sandwiches.

Coffee from Vermont Coffee Company and Barista’s Beans in Hyde Park, Vermont will be brewed and served, along with other cold weather staples like hot apple cider and hot cocoa.

Espresso drinks are in their vision and are hoped to be included in the near future.

Five to ten flavors of bagels will be offered each day, with a rotation schedule planned for some of the more obscure offerings. And when it comes to their own favorites? Abruzzini’s is a tie between garlicky kale, and salt, pepper and fennel, while Silver prefers cranberry ginger, a flavor combination that uses crystallized ginger and Vermont Cranberry Company berries that he first used and enjoyed in muffins at The Mix Café.

The bagel shop is open five days a week in the morning hours only, with plans to expand with an aprèsski session in the evenings with live music. Bagel punch cards will be available too, an homage to the bagel share that started their business.

Customers can purchase a card which then gives them an allotted amount of bagels to pick up at any time within the year.

For Abruzzini and Silver, months of planning and hard work are paying off. The big question now is if they’ll still find time this winter to hit the mountain. Something tells me no matter how big the bagel business booms, they’ll manage to balance it.

Justin Marsh is the president of Cambridge Artists & Entrepreneurs (www.CambridgeVT.com), a group committed to strengthening the economic muscle in the Smugglers’ Notch area.

Bagel photography by Chris Diegel, chdiegelphoto.smugmug.com

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A Party in a Box Shipped to you at Smugglers Notch!

đ 30 Delicious Sugar Cookies đ Colorful Icings đ Fun Candies and Sugars The Cookie Party is a party in a box with 30 freshly baked sugar cookies, colorful icings, fun candies and sugars - ready for you to decorate and enjoy!

We deliver to Smugglers Notch! Order by Monday for Wednesday delivery:

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Made in Vermont đ A Party in a Box đ We Ship 40 • explore

LAJOIE STABLES Family owned and operated for over 25 years!

Located only 10 minutes from Smugglers’ Notch Resort! Go back in time and experience the serenity of a horse drawn sleigh ride. Your journey will take you through a grove of blue spruce, open fields and into a forest of hardwoods. Day or evening sleigh rides are available. We offer the private romantic sleigh ride for two or for a large family get-together.

We also offer winter horseback rides.

What a way to spend a quiet Vermont winters day!

We are the only horse facility that is open 7 days a week all year long!

802-644-5347 • www.lajoiestables.com Visa / MC / Discover are accepted Reservations are required.

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DATE NIGHT (or day)

! e l y t S s Smugg

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Wish you and your honey could steal some time for a date night or day during your stay at Smugglers’ Notch Resort?

While a date at home may mean dinner and a movie, we went on a mission to find you mountain experiences that you may not be

able to have within a few miles (or hundreds of miles) of home.

Read on for three out-of-the-box date ideas. You can even claim the credit for coming up with the plan. Your secret is safe with us.

We won’t tell.

by REBECCA KLEIN

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Featuring a large selection of wines by the glass, microbrews, and specialty drinks.

Join us for live entertainment every night starting at 9pm.

Located in the Village Lodge, ext. 5017 Open daily. 21 & over please.

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HORSING AROUND How about trading in the skis for hooves!

Did you know that you can indulge in a private horseback riding tour at Lajoie Stables?

area from a snowmobile. Snowmobile tours, led by Green Mountain Snowmobiles, leave from the Resort six evenings a week for hour-long guided tours. The experience begins with safety and driving instruction.

No experience is necessary.

“It’s a different experience,” says barn manager Krystina Hedger. “Not many people can say they’ve gone horseback riding in the snow. It’s like walking through a winter wonderland.”

There’s even a love story behind the company. Coowners Jessica Bonath and her fiancée Richard Mitchell met while dirt biking and had their first date on a snowmobile, on an evening with a full moon.

On a snowy day, Krystina likens the experience to being inside a snow globe. An hour trail ride is $50 per person with a guide.

The tour’s destination, Smugglers’ Notch Pass which connects Smugglers’ Notch and Stowe, is closed to cars during the winter. “It’s just the coolest sensation being up there and knowing no one else can really go there,” says Jessica of the experience. She likens it to getting to tune out the world.

The stables are open seven days a week and closed on Christmas. Beginners are welcome. Reservations are required.

Looking to extend your date with a meal? Krystina suggests 158 Main Restaurant & Bakery in Jeffersonville.

“It really gives off that homey feel,” says Krystina of the restaurant. You can warm up with a cup of the 158 Main Seafood Chowder as you look through the extensive menu of burgers, sandwiches made on homemade bread and salads. Be sure to take a loaf of fresh maple wheat or another variety home for the family.

REV UP FOR A RIDE ON THE SNOWY SIDE …

Enjoy a nighttime outing in the fresh mountain air, snuggled close to your date as you savor the picturesque views of Smugglers’ Notch Pass and surrounding

You and your date arrive suited up in snow boots, ski gloves, ski pants, and a warm jacket. Helmets are provided. Snowmobiling is $95 per snowmobile, per tour. If you both want to try a hand at the steering wheel, you can switch mid-tour.

ICE ICE BABY! Looking to spice things up with some adventure?

Consider a daytime ice climb date! Peak Expeditions offers Resort guests the opportunity to get up close to ice canyons and mountain landscapes.

“Getting out of one’s comfort zone a little really pushes personal growth and can be a great way to grow as a couple,” finds Chris Rice, the operations manager at

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Expeditions. “Whether rappelling into an ice canyon or climbing up a frozen waterfall, we like to connect people to environments that many people never get to experience.” He says that the area offers some of the best views in New England.

Peak Expeditions runs tours by appointment in the Madonna Ice Canyon and in the Notch. The Madonna and Notch locations are reachable without skiing. The tours are customized based on experience and start at $200 per couple. Allow around four hours. Prices vary depending on the length of the climb, level and location. While ice climbing may sound like an “extreme sport,” Chris describes it as a fun and challenging workout that can be tailored for all ages and abilities.

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Ice climbing equipment is provided.

Ski boots are required. You can rent a pair at 3 Mountain Equipment if needed. The activity is weather permitting.

You can sweeten the adventure by booking massages afterward at Smugglers’ Mountain Massage Center, which offers a variety of treatments ranging from relaxing to invigorating.

Rebecca Klein is a communications consultant and freelance writer in Baltimore. Rebecca has been visiting Smugglers’ since her childhood. It’s only fitting that her St. Bernard is named Smuggs. She thanks her parents, Elaine and Roger Klein, for many vacation memories.

GOT KIDS? Relax and enjoy your date knowing they’re in good hands.

BABYSITTING: The TREASURES child-care staff can send a babysitter to your condominium. A sitter can play with your children in your resort home or if you would like, can take them to any child-friendly activities happening at Smuggs.

Call x1180 between 8:00 am – 4:30 pm or x1293 after hours. A 48-hour advance reservation and minimum of two hours of sitting is required.

Payment: $10 non-refundable fee to TREASURES and $12 per hour payment for the first child and $1 per hour per additional child is made to the sitter. Holiday pricing starts at $15 per hour and includes Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day. An additional sitter may be required if you have more than four children.

KIDS’ NIGHT OUT: Or, the kids can go out for their own night! Each Wednesday & Saturday night, TREASURES hosts Kids’ Night Out events from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm with fun activities, dinner and entertainment. Available December 5, 2014 – April 12, 2015, $35 per child (ages 3-11). 24-hour advance reservations required. Call x1180.

CHILDREN’S FUNFEAST: Your kids (3 and up) can join Smugglers’ Notch Snow Sport University celebrity instructors, Billy Bob Bear and Mogul Mouse, for the ultimate party with a feast of pizza and make your own sundaes, a movie and dancing! Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate hosts the DJ dance party. The FunFeast is every Tuesday night from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, $35 per child. If parents are going to the Snowshoe Adventure Dinner, there is a free 4:00 pm early drop-off. Advance registration required. Call Guest Services (x1293).

MAKE A PLAN LAJOIE STABLES: 992 Pollander Road, Jeffersonville.

(802) 644-5347. Info: lajoiestables.com 158 MAIN RESTAURANT: 158 Main Street, Jeffersonville. (802) 644-8100. 158main.com SNOWMOBILE TOURS: Tours meet at the Smugglers’ Notch Snowmobile Trailer next to the Morse Mountain Grill. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm & 7:00 pm. Friday & Saturday: 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm & 8:00 pm.

There will not be a 7:00 pm tour on Thursday due to fireworks. Space is limited. Weather permitting. Register at Guest Services (x1293) or at the Nordic Center (x1173). Learn more at greenmtnsnowmobile.com ICE CLIMBING: Learn more by calling (802) 468-PEAK or visit peakexpeditions.com MASSAGE: From the deep pressure of the Deep Tissue Massage to the soothing warmth of the Vanilla Spice Wrap Massage, the Mountain Massage Center offers a variety of sessions certain to please. An advance appointment is required; please make arrangements at the center (x1262) or at the Guest Service Desk (x1293).

Please note that children must be toilet trained to participate in Kids’ Night Out and Children’s FunFeast.

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Airboards are fun and fast and one of the greatest Winter sporting inventions. Similar to an inflatable sled or boogie board, they are lightweight and easy to maneuver.

At Smugglers’ certain trails at the Morse Highlands area are designated for Airboard use from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday. Guests must attend a short instructional clinic before venturing on their own.

Users must be at least 10 years old, 48 inches tall and wear a helmet.

Clinic: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, $25 includes instruction, rental and 1 hour free ride.

Free Ride: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, $20 includes rental, guests must have a valid lift ticket.

Advance registration, at the Nordic Center, ext. 1173 or Guest Service Desk, ext. 1293 is required.

Check your Resort Information Guide for more information.

❆ 30 km of cross country trails ❆ 24 km of dedicated snowshoe trails ❆ Group & private lessons ❆ Outdoor natural ice skating ❆ Nordic, skates & TSL snowshoe rentals ❆ FREE trail access with a valid lift pass ❆ Day & evening snowshoe tours

Nordic Ski & Snowshoe

ADVENTURE CENTER Located behind the Courtside Pool EXTENSION 1173

Join us at Zeke’s Place on the Country Road Trail for a quick warm-up! Check in at the Nordic Center for more info!

Photo by Preston Schlebusch www.prestonschlebusch.com 48 • explore

Explore Smugglers’ Notch on Snowmobile Your evening journey begins at Morse Mountain, where you will learn to ride your own snowmobile with professional guides. You will be guided up ski trails and through historic Smugglers’ Notch Pass!

Ride solo or with a passenger. Don’t want to drive, but still want an adventure?

Ride with one of our guides.

SKI Magazine’s 2015 Winter Travel Guide

“Must Try”

Junior Snowmobile Rides

Kids ages 6 - 12 can now take the controls of their own youth size, mini snowmobile and ride on Sir Henry’s Hill on Thursday, Friday or Sunday evenings.

We provide friendly guides, helmets and instruction.

To reserve: Call Guest Services at ext. 1293

Green Mountain

Snowmobile Adventures

We also offer: Guided Day Tours, Private Guided Tours, Guides for Hire.

greenmtnsnowmobile.com

greenmountainsnowmobile@gmail.com explore • 49

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Last winter, our new Cat Trax Express began prowling the mountain, transporting folks to the Madonna summit in the early hours on Saturday mornings for fresh tracks, and up Morse Mountain on selected evenings for starlight and fireworks viewing. The Cat Trax matches up a 12-passenger cabin with one of our grooming machines to offer a ride like no other on our rugged mountain terrain. If you’ve ever watched the headlights of the groomers at work at night on our trails (and you know you have), this is the ride for you. One of the cat’s drivers, Matt Watson, shares his take on the experience.

by KAREN BOUSHIE Photo byJim Deshler, deshlerphotography.com explore • 51

Cat \’kat\ noun 1. Slang term for snowcat, an enclosed-cab, truck-sized, tracked vehicle designed to move on snow. A moveable wide blade affixed to the front of the vehicle enables pushing and tilling of snow on ski trails. The name “snowcat” originates from the 1946 trademark by Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation, which dominated the snowcat vehicle industry until the 1960s.

2. Abbreviated reference for catamount, a species of large wild cats that are also called panthers, cougars or mountain lions. The last confirmed sighting of a catamount in Vermont was in the late 1800s. Since then, despite occasional claimed sightings, scientists have not found proof of catamounts in Vermont. Mystique about the species is reflected in popular use of its image in the state.

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making tracks continued ...

Matt, how about giving Explore Smuggs readers a sense of what the ride is like.

The long run up to the Madonna summit takes anywhere from a half hour to 45 minutes depending on conditions like whether the snow is soft, which makes the cat work harder. But, you know, it’s not about the ride, but where the ride takes you. You might see morning sunrises over the White Mountains, or evening sunsets over Mount Mansfield. You can watch the sun reflect off the tall buildings of Montreal in the morning or see the lights of the city come on at night. Every tour is great in its own way.

Sure sounds like a don’t miss for visitors.

You know, it is really a unique experience for so many reasons.

Driving, I met a lot of guests who have been coming here for years but had never been to the top of Madonna.

Usually, they don’t ski or ride, and the tour gives them the opportunity to see what the skiers or riders in their family see all the time. One time there was a couple from the Florida Keys. They had never seen snow. Everyone is blown away by the scenery.

I crew for the hot air balloon company Above Reality in the summer, and the perspective is similar among both the balloon folks and the Cat Trax passengers. Both are activities that bring you out of your element; you sort of have a little fear of the experience, but on the same hand, you want to do it. I hate to use the “bucket list” phrase, but that’s what the cat ride seems to be for people.

What’s the question you heard most frequently?

“Can I drive?”

“... it’s not about the ride,

but where the ride takes you.” explore • 53

1442 VT Route 15 West , Johnson, VT 05656

802-635-7282

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www.jhrvt.com

making tracks continued ...

Do you have a pet name for the Cat Trax?

It’s got a nickname – BR549. That’s in honor of Dave Williamson, who worked as mountain manager at Smuggs for many years. BR549 is the name of a country band that Dave likes, and that was his call sign when he drove cat.

You know, I’ve known this cat for a while. It has a history here at the resort. It was our winch cat for a long time – meaning it took care of grooming our steepest slopes, hooked with a cable to an anchor point, which was usually another cat or a steel post.

You mentioned that you crew for a balloon company in the summer. In the winter, when you’re not driving the Cat Trax tour, what do you do?

This will be my 19th winter at Smuggs. I ski patrolled for 10 years, drove snowcat for four years, and have been back on patrol for the last five years.

Want to take a ride on the Cat Trax Express?

Evening Upper Mountain Tour Monday & Saturday at 4:15 pm Top of Morse Fireworks Tour Thursday at 7:15 pm Upper Mountain Fresh Tracks Saturday at 7:00 am $49 per person, recommended for ages 6 and older. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Weather permitting. A minimum of 6 people is required for trip to run. Additional tours may be added once the scheduled tours above have been filled. Advance registration is required. Check with the Guest Service Desk for more information or to sign-up, extension 1293.

All ages love a big machine. In your humble opinion, what’s cooler — groomer or Zamboni?

Snowcats are way cooler than a Zamboni.

‘Nuff said.

Matt Watson

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Check out the Green Mountain Deli for fabulous wraps, salads, burgers, light breakfast, bagels, daily specials, pastries, beverages and the BEST French fries around!

Open daily, Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm weekends & holidays, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join us on Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm for après sport parties with music, trivia, prize giveaways, and more! It’s a great place to meet other riders and skiers and some of the locals. (12/12/14 - 3/29/15)

Located in the Smuggs Village Lodge.

Ext. 1141

NEW THIS WINTER!

The 5 Gallon Series

Offering a wide variety of soups, snacks, Smugglers’ chili, entrée salads, panini sandwiches, gourmet wraps, signature tavern burgers, desserts, beverages, beer and wine.

Featuring limited run, small batch specialty beers on tap!

AT THE MADONNA/STERLING BASE LODGE

Full bar and table service available for a selection of sandwiches, salads, snacks, soups, chili, apps and beverages.

Sun. - Thurs. 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Fri. & Sat. 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Located at the Madonna/Sterling Base Lodge

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pm 2:00 am 0 m 0 p : 1 :00 ,1 rsday :30 am - 3 u h T y, 10 day Mon y - Sunda a d i Fr

Open daily,11:30 am - 10 pm Extension 1142  Dine-In or Take-Out

Located in the Village Lodge

For starters

Calzones

Specialty Pizza

CHEESY BREADSTICKS

Fresh dough is filled and baked with our special blend of ricotta and shredded mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings. Served with a side of flavorful marinara sauce.

MOUNT MANSFIELD Refueling after a day outdoors? This hearty combination of pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, red onions & green peppers certainly does justice to its imposing namesake, Vermont’s tallest mountain!

BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS available plain, or honey BBQ

MOZZARELLA STICKS CHICKEN TENDER BASKET available plain or spicy hot Buffalo

FRENCH FRIES

Salads Add grilled or crispy chicken to any salad!

GARDEN SALAD

Flatbread Pizza MARGHERITA Zesty tomato sauce with fresh mozzarella balls as a topping

BIANCA A white pizza with fresh mozzarella balls as the base and pesto, ricotta, and garlic as flavorful toppings.

POLLO A hearty combination of grilled chicken

CAESAR SALAD

and roasted red peppers with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella balls.

CHEF SALAD

ITALIANO Italian sausage as a topping adds punch

Pasta & Meatballs SPAGHETTI OR ZITI MARINARA with or without meatballs

KID SIZE PASTA with or without meatballs, includes kid’s beverage

Oven-Roasted Heros MEATBALL PARM CHICKEN PARM EGGPLANT PARM

to a traditional pizza with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella balls.

Pizza HAND TOSSED or THICK SICILIAN-STYLE Toppings: pepperoni, meatballs, sausage, ham, bacon, mushrooms, red onions, green peppers, black olives, pineapple, broccoli, hot peppers, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, & chicken.

DOC DEMPSEY Our black diamond Doc Dempsey is named for a local doctor who skied Smugglers’ in the early years. Combining green peppers, mushrooms, red onions, broccoli, black olives and sliced tomatoes, we think this tasty vegetarian combination would meet with the good doctor’s approval!

3 MOUNTAIN This is the Smugglers’ pizza; three mountains, three toppings! And it’s a fave with meat lovers due to its generous helpings of pepperoni, sausage and meatballs. Which mountain corresponds to which topping? That’s for you to decide!

HAWAIIAN Who doesn’t love the sweet and salty combo of pineapple and ham? We take it a step further and add bacon for a meaty Hawaiian pizza that’s unforgettable.

GARLIC LOVERS And white pizza lovers, this one’s for you! This delicious white pizza blends a base of ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, with savory toppings of garlic, broccoli and sliced tomatoes.

BUFFALO CHICKEN Looking for something hot & spicy? Look no further! This scrumptious pizza combines tender white chicken pieces in a zingy buffalo sauce with creamy ranch dressing – all the flavors of classic Buffalo chicken wings, but on a pizza! Additional toppings can be added to make this spicy creation uniquely yours.

explore • 57

Can an adult learn to ski? Of course. Can the experience be fun?

Heck, yeah! Can progressing from beginner terrain on Morse Mountain to Madonna summit runs leave the new skier wistfully dreaming of snow during other seasons? Most definitely.

Meet Nick Eliades. Nick is the publisher of Oh Baby! Magazine based in Toronto, Canada. He and his wife Sandy, the magazine’s editor, and their young children were first introduced to Smugglers’ on a media visit in 2012. Prior to that visit, the couple’s first experience on skis was not the stuff of happy memories – they went with friends, it didn’t turn out well, their interest in skiing declined.

15 years went by, and then the Eliades traveled to Smugglers’. With their kids enrolled in ski camp, the couple signed up for a couple ski lessons at the adult beginner level. Sandy then chose to pursue activities at the Smugglers’ Nordic Center and enjoyed snowshoe treks. Nick stayed with the ski lessons, enrolling in morning classes daily on that first trip and on two subsequent winter visits to Smugglers’.

“I really couldn’t wait to try again,” he says while recalling his first lesson at Smugglers’. There were about a half dozen adults in the group, and Nick remembers that the instructor took it step by step, allowing plenty of time for students to develop confidence on the mellow slope of Sir Henry’s Hill. By the end of that week, he had progressed to riding midway up Morse on the Magic Lift.

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by KAREN BOUSHIE Photo byJim Deshler, deshlerphotography.com explore • 59

from morse to madonna continued ...

During the family’s second visit to Smugglers’, Nick rode the instructors gave us confidence and self belief. The the lift to the top of Morse Mountain during a lesson. “My instructors were a key part in helping me advance. I loved initial thought, looking down the trail, was holy s**t, that’s listening to their stories and learning how they got to be steep,” laughs Nick. “I was worried about building up instructors, and how they came to Smuggs. I also remember speed and not being able to stop, but once I realized that I the anticipation while riding the lift and how beautiful and could control my skis, I started to enjoy it.” As he gained clear it was on the mountain.” familiarity with the trails, he played with gaining speed, then slowing down, and moving back and forth across the trail.

“Skiing down, something clicked into place. It was really And as his confidence grew, he found that doing a couple quite liberating,” he observes of that first run down from additional runs in the afternoon after lunch was a fun way to the Madonna summit. Sharing the experience with a fellow review and practice what he had learned earlier in class. student was another bonus, according to Nick. “In that class, there were two of us paired with the instructor. It was really On the family’s third visit, Nick experienced great strides, nice to have someone else alongside who was also learning.

We became a team, and we’d talk stuff through, which surprising even to him. “We got on the shuttle bus to go up to Madonna and Sterling and the instructors were separating helped enhance our confidence to take on new challenges. us into groups by level. They were like, you’re a level 6. I It’s great to have a ski buddy, and we’re still in touch.” was thinking it was crazy – going up to Madonna! – but

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While Nick’s run down Madonna was definitely a highlight of the family’s most recent winter visit, another highlight was cruising Morse with his kids. “The whole point of a ski holiday is sharing time with family,” he observes. “Growing up, my family was all about the sun; we never considered a ski holiday. I’m really happy to be a skier for my kids, who are totally enjoying the sport. And the community feel at Smugglers’ makes the experience even better. It’s all about hanging out as a family and being outside.”

Nick’s goal for his next visit to Smugglers’? He’s got two: “Take a morning lesson, then ski with my kids in the afternoon” and “Do Madonna properly,” which he defines as “… on my own, without an instructor.” Sounds like all three of Smugglers’ mountains soon will be familiar territory for this enthusiastic skier.

Nick’s tips for adult beginners Take a lesson. “100 percent recommended: take those lessons!”

Make sure you get the right equipment because comfort is key to successful learning. “Speak up if you’re not comfortable.”

Share your favored learning style with your instructor. “I prefer a more critical teaching style. I wanted the instructor to point out if I’m doing something wrong, otherwise I’d never learn.”

Ready to take a lesson? Stop by the Ski & Ride Desk in the Village Center and they’ll guide you in the right direction!

Instructor Doug Cook with

Sandy and Nick Eliades on Sir Henry’s Learning Hill.

Photo byJim Deshler, deshlerphotography.com explore • 61

The Hearth & Candle “Hearth & Candle is a lovely restaurant with an exciting delectable menu as well as a charming and knowledgeable staff.”

– Bite of the Best

Enjoy the Hearth & Candle’s cozy atmosphere for casual family dinners, or quiet white-tablecloth dining for adults only in the Birch Room. Our complete dinner menu features steaks, chicken, fresh fish and seafood. And, we serve local organically grown vegetables and salads, and we’ll tempt you with a delicious selection of homemade desserts. A full-service bar and extensive wine list will complement your dining experience or you can relax with a cocktail at our cozy bar.

We’re located right in the heart of Smugglers’ Village - the whole family is invited and we have a complete children’s menu, too!

Daily 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm (802) 644-1260 Reservations Recommended 62 • explore

TAKE OUT AVAILABLE — CALL EXT. 1247 Soups

Soup du Jour  French Onion Crock  New England Clam Chowder Smugglers’ Mountain Chili Cup

Side Salads

House Salad  Caesar Salad  Caprese Salad

Appetizers

Buffalo Chicken Wings  Maple Ale Glazed Chicken Wings Garden Hummus Plate  Cherry Pepper Calamari  House Pub Fries Garlic Cheese Toast  Three Cheese Artichoke Dip Smugglers’ Nachos (also available with chili and/or guacamole)

Quesadillas Add a side salad for a great combo!

SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER Daily, 8am - 9pm Extension 1247 Located in Smugglers’ Village Center

Pasta Roasted Garlic Fettucini Alfredo (also available with shrimp or chicken) Cavatappi Primavera  Black Tie Chicken & Pasta House Cabot Alpine Macaroni & Cheese (also available with bacon, chili or shrimp)

Buffalo  Veggie  Cheese

Grilled Flatbreads Add a side salad for a great combo!

Three Cheese Flatbread  Pepperoni Flatbread Vermonter Flatbread apple chutney, bacon, spinach, VT Cheddar,

Seafood

Fish & Chips Platter  House Roasted Salmon New England Baked Haddock  Seafood Platter

cheese blend & honey mustard

House Favorite Entrées (dinner only)

Entrée Salads Dressings: Ranch, Caesar, House Chipotle Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette, and House Maple Poppy

Highlands Caesar Salad (also available with chicken or shrimp) Sycamore Salad  Scallop & Walnut Apple Salad  Chopped Cobb Salad Farm Stand Spinach Salad  Buffalo Chicken Salad

Sandwiches All sandwiches, wraps and burgers are served with a pickle and

your choice of hand-cut fries, house seasoned platter fries, carrots & celery, house coleslaw, curly fries (gluten-free option available) or housemade maple baked beans.

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wrap  Chipotle Chicken Pulled Pork  French Dip  Vermonter Turkey Melt Veggie Wrap  Sugar Shack (grilled ham, swiss, tomato & maple mustard aioli) Our 100% beef burger patties are housemade and served on a gourmet roll

House Burger  House Cheeseburger  Pub Burger Firecracker Burger  Morse Mountain Burger Vermont Boyden Farm Sustain-a-Burger Your choice of cheese: Swiss, Cabot cheddar, American, Cabot pepper jack, or blue cheese crumbles.

Side Options: mashed potatoes, wild rice pilaf, house seasoned platter fries, hand-cut fries, curly fries (gluten-free option available), carrots & celery, house coleslaw or housemade maple baked beans.

Housemade Desserts Fresh Apple Tart  Vermont Maple Cheesecake Hershey’s Chocolate Mousse Cake  Seasonal Crème Brûlée Hershey’s Chocolate Cupcake Sundae  Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding

Kids’ Menu

Sandwiches (lunch only) House Burgers

Rib Eye Steak  Maple Whiskey BBQ Steak Tips  Mountain Chili Platter Chicken Tender Platter  Stuffed Vermont Chicken Grilled Cheese & Chipotle Soup Platter  Country Chicken Pot Pie Platter Smuggs-Style BBQ Ribs (8 or 4 rib portions)

Penne Pasta with marinara sauce or butter Combo Basket – chicken tender & mozzarella sticks Chicken Tenders  Grilled Cheese  Breaded Fish Filet Housemade Cheddar Mac & Cheese  Cheese Pizza Pepperoni Pizza  Hamburger  Cheeseburger  Hot Dog

Join us for breakfast - offering a full selection à la carte menu daily.

Don’t miss our tableside entertainment!

The Friendly Pirate – Monday, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm & Friday, 8:00 am - 10:00 am  Marko the Magician – Tuesday, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm explore • 63

chowtime The Morse Mountain Grille has it all: breakfast, lunch, cocktails, and dinner in a comfortable and casual space. A hearty Vermont breakfast is a morning favorite with a selection of pancakes, the Grille’s unique French toast, omelets, meats, baked goods, fruit and more. Lunch includes appetizers and a wide variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, and housemade burgers. The Grille’s signature grilled flatbreads are a tasty appetizer prior to lunch or dinner; or with a side salad for a meal. Try the Vermont Flatbread; it is delicious! Dinner features an array of beef, fish, poultry, pasta and vegetarian dishes, with delicious Vermont products such as cheese and meats incorporated. Relax in front of the fieldstone fireplace in the Pub with a special beverage and munchies and watch the skiers and riders sliding down Morse Mountain. Be sure to check out the great wine by the glass options, full wine list and the Little Smuggs Fun Menu. The Grille is open daily 8:00 am to 9:00 pm; the Pub is open 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Extension 1247.

Riga-Bello’s, a taste of Italy in northern Vermont! Pizzas with traditional toppings as well as combinations unique to Smugglers’ … for example, the Doc Dempsey, named after a popular Smuggs trail, topped with green peppers, mushrooms, red onions, broccoli, black olives and sliced tomatoes. Also serving calzones, pasta, meatball subs, salads and more. Open daily for dine-in or take-out from 11:30 am until 10:00 pm. Extension 1142.

Enjoy the Green Mountain Deli’s fresh baked cookies, muffins, pies and light breakfast items. Start your morning with a hot cup of coffee, flavored coffee or cappuccino. Lunch features freshly made sandwiches, salads, vegetarian options and specials daily. Special occasion cakes made to order with 24 hours notice. The Green Mountain Deli is located in the Village Lodge and is open daily from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm and on weekends and holidays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Extension 1141.

You can’t visit Vermont without eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! The Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop at Smuggs is located in the Village Lodge and is open Monday – Friday, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 noon – 9:00 pm. Tempt your tastebuds with a selection of ice cream flavors, sorbets, and low fat frozen yogurt in cones, sundaes or shakes. More than 15 unique and fun flavors to choose from … sample a different flavor each day of your stay! Extension 1303.

The Hearth & Candle serves dinner nightly in a cozy setting right in the center of Smugglers’ Village. Seasonal menu items with locally sourced ingredients include an innovative selection of beef, poultry, and fish. After dinner, satisfy your sweet tooth with a triple chocolate truffle cake, cheesecake, or Vermont apple crisp. Dining rooms available for family friendly and adults only dining. Children’s menu available.

Open for dinner nightly 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm. Extension 1260.

Smugglers’ Madonna and Sterling Mountains Base Lodge offers a variety of daytime and early evening options for upper mountain dining. The Base Lodge Cafeteria serves breakfast, lunch, beverages and snacks and is open weekdays 8:00 am to 3:30 pm and weekends 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Green Peppers features appetizers,

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The Hearth & Candle’s steak frites — a classic that’s sure to satisy.

explore • 65

Smugglers’ Notch Inn dining room (upstairs) open Thursday - Saturday

Open daily, food service from 3pm - 9pm 55 Church Street  Jeffersonville, VT  802.644.6765

Featuring hearty appetizers, daily specials and a wide selection of microbrews, and cocktails.

Live music every Thursday night.

Family friendly atmosphere.

Kids’ menu available.

See our full menu at www.villagetavernvt.com

Pub-style dining downstairs

“ Take a break without even leaving the slopes! Stop by the Waffle Cabin for a grab-and-go slopeside treat. Baked fresh and on-demand, the enticing aroma will draw you in and the taste will keep you coming back for more. Cap off your perfect run with a perfect waffle treat!

Located next to the Madonna II lift.

Open Thursday through Monday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Hours and days available are subject to change - look for the open flag!

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There’s not much to say besides BEST waffle ever. I love the caramelized sugar and the chocolate drizzled on top.

Mouthwatering, must have when I go to Vermont. A must try!

— Yelp review

”

chowtime continued

soups, entrée salads, panini sandwiches, gourmet wraps and tavern burgers, as well as beer and wine. Green Peppers’ hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and Friday through Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, extension 5132. The Black Bear Tavern is a full service bar enhanced with a large selection of draft beers, including Smugglers’ own Prohibition Ale brewed by Vermont’s Long Trail Brewery. The Black Bear also has the full Green Peppers menu available with waitstaff service. Enjoy appetizers, soups, sandwiches, hearty Winter fare and more. The Black Bear is open Sunday – Thursday from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Extension 5003.

New to Smugglers’ this season is the Waffle Cabin, a grab-and-go slopeside treat located near the Madonna II lift. Baked fresh and on demand, the enticing aroma will draw you in and the taste will keep you coming back. Cap off your perfect run with a perfect waffle treat! Open Thursday - Monday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

For convenience that can’t be beat, try the Morse Highlands Day Lodge for a continental breakfast before hitting the slopes. The lodge also serves lunch, snacks, and beverages.

The lodge is accessible by shuttle or the Dixie’s Knoll trail adjacent to the Morse Highlands lift. Morse Highlands Lodge is open daily from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm for food service. Extension 8514.

Located just down the mountain from the Resort, the Brewster River Pub & Grill offers hearty pub-style fare in a casual atmosphere perfect for hanging out and swapping stories from the ski day.

A section of the menu entitled “Smaller Appetites” caters to munchers young and old with items like sliders, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks and more. Appetizers include traditional favorites such as nachos and potato skins and more unique flavors such as teriyaki duck wings.

The Morse Mountain Grille’s Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding.

A new twist on a classic favorite.

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VERMONT STYLE BAGELS

If you like pizza, you’ll love

’ Located just 12 minutes away from Smugglers’, Angelina’s Restaurant has been family owned since 1985. Serving quality homemade brick-oven pizza, subs and calzones.

All our dough and sauces are made fresh daily.

Menus available at the Smugglers’ Notch Guest Service Desk.

802-644-2011 Eat in or take out.

Delivery available when permitted. www.angelinaspizza.net

M

tn Seasons is a new bagelrie and cafe located ¼ of a mile from the entrance to Smugglers’ Notch Resort on Vermont Route 108 South. The bakery specialty, Vermont Style Bagels, are hand rolled using local flour, boiled in a maple syrup water bath and then baked to perfection in a wood fired oven. These bagels are chewy and light with a crisp crust and have developed quite a following among locals and visitors alike.

Check out www.mtnseasons.com or find us on facebook for up-to-the-minute developments.

FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

FULL BAR MENU LATE NIGHT

Open Tuesday through Saturday 4pm to 2am, serving food until midnight Sunday 12pm to 10pm, serving food until 9pm Featuring local microbrews and an extensive tequila menu.

Nightly drink and food specials plus entertainment Thursday through Saturday. Located just 2 miles from Smugglers’ Notch Resort village.

SERVING AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FLAVORS IN AN INVITING SPACE 68 • explore

chowtime continued ...

158 Main is a local favorite for breakfast

Mmmmmm – Jeffersonville Pizza Department’s white pesto pizza

There are a variety of burgers and sandwiches, all served with a side of hand-cut fries. Entrées include beef, seafood and barbecue selections. Soups and salads complete the menu, all freshly made in house.

A wide selection of local beers, in addition to their own craft beers. Open daily, nightly chalkboard specials and live music. 802-644-6366 Located just across the street is Mtn Seasons wood fired bagel bakery. Serving bagel sandwiches, coffee, baked goods and light fare. Open Thursday - Sunday, 6:00 am - 12:00 noon. 802-644-5446 El Dorado is a bar and restaurant slightly off the beaten path serving authentic Mexican flavors in an inviting space with late night food service. Enjoy the family friendly atmosphere during dinner, and linger to enjoy a great night spot with a bar food menu as well. El Dorado serves up local microbrews and an extensive tequila menu, and features nightly drink and food specials with live entertainment, karaoke, Mtn Seasons garlic & kale bagels — sure to keep the vampires away.

comedy, and other events Thursday through Saturday.

During the football season, El Dorado offers NFL games on four TVs, and is the perfect spot to catch NBA, NHL, and MLB action too. Consider hosting your private event here. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Located on Edwards Road off Route 108. 802-644-5432 You’ll find delicious food at The Mix, a breakfast/lunch eatery located on the side of the Smugglers’ Notch Inn in downtown Jeffersonville. Choose from a mouthwatering selection of temptations like Crème Brûlée French Toast to start the day and hearty and flavorful soups and sandwiches for lunch. 802-644-6371 Located in downtown Jeffersonville just minutes from Smugglers’ in the historic Smugglers’ Notch Inn, the Village Tavern serves hearty pub-style appetizers, soups, salads and entrées nightly. Enjoy the casual atmosphere, and a meal that will top off your day with flavor and substance. Kids’ menu available.

802-644-6765 158 Main Restaurant and Bakery is housed in the historic Windridge Farms Building, located in downtown Jeffersonville just minutes from Smugglers’.

There is literally nothing missing at 158 Main, with full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, all of which encompass everything from the basics to diverse specials, which are sure to tempt every palate. 158 Main also offers an extensive bakery selection of breads, pies, cookies and the baker’s daily surprises.

So whether you are looking for a before-skiing breakfast, break for lunch, après ski dinner, or the perfect dessert to cap your day, 158 has it all! Open Tuesday-Sunday. 802-644-8100

explore • 69

brewsterriverpubnbrewery.com 802.644.6366

LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND! Located just down the mountain from the Resort, offering hearty pub-style fare in a casual atmosphere!

At Brewster River Pub & Brewery, we are committed to satisfying our customers with great food, beer, spirits and excellent service. We offer a wide variety of delicious homemade farm to table pub dishes and hand-crafted beers on tap. Whatever you’re in the mood for, you can find it here!

PUB & BREWERY

OPEN DAILY Mon. - Fri. at 2 pm Sat. & Sun. at 11 am Serving food daily until 11 pm /Brewsterriverpeeps

PUB & BREWERY on ati VT c o t., dl on ex Jc c e ss rs ou t in E 7111 t 9. ou ee SMOKEY HONEY BBQ ck rl Str 2.87 e Ch Pea 80 118

Choose from twelve different flavors with five different WICKED heat choices!

ENJOY BIG SCREEN TELEVISIONS, GOOD MUSIC AND AWESOME FOOD! Ribs • Nachos • Falafel • Fried Pickles • Burgers Cheese Steak and of course ... WINGS!

JAMAICAN JERK

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70 • explore

SERVING LUNCH & DINNER DAILY

Sunday - Thursday, 11:00 am – midnight or later u Friday & Saturday, 10:30 am – 2:00 am

www.WickedWingsVermont.com r 2 Lower Main r Johnson, Vermont r 802.730.8134

chowtime continued ...

Above 158 Main, the Jeffersonville Pizza Department serves pizza, pasta, wings and salads daily. Eat in or take out. Open Wednesday-Sunday. 802-644-5550

Wicked Wings — so much more than a wing joint.

Across from 158 Main is The Farm Store, offering a variety of fresh organic

produce and natural foods, cleaning and personal products and more.

Open daily. 802-644-9463 The Family Table at the intersection of Route 108 and 15 in Jeffersonville has a loyal following who give rave reviews to its innovative menu and use of high quality fresh ingredients. Tops on the list of recommendations are the buttermilk fried chicken, penne with wild mushroom pesto and spinach, and beef dishes such as the rib eye steak brined for extra flavor and juiciness. Extensive wine list and full bar. Children’s menu available. Open Thursday – Monday. 802-644-8920 A fixture in Cambridge since 1985, Angelina’s offers quality homemade Italian pizza, pasta, cold and hot subs, calzones and breads. Try the steak bomb – steak, mushrooms, onions, and peppers – as a pizza or hot sub. 802-644-2011 The Essex Outlets & Cinema, located about 25 minutes driving time from Smugglers’, features several dining choices to complement a shopping excursion.

Consider the Oriental Wok or Sukho Thai’s fresh and exotic flavors to tempt your tastebuds. Independent

bookseller Phoenix Book’s cozy café serves hot and cold beverages, light lunch selections, and sweet treats. Sweet Clover Market offers freshly made soups, salads and sandwiches to go or to eat in their casual seating area. 802-878-2851 (outlet center information line) Much more than just a wings joint, Wicked Wings offers a variety of appetizers, chicken sandwiches, salads, ribs, and burgers. Sides for burgers and sandwiches (or just for fun) include hand-cut French fries, homemade coleslaw and chips and salsa.

When ordering wings, choose a heat from mild to “melt-your-face hot,” and a dozen sauce choices that range from barbeque to Jamaican jerk to Wasabi. Take-out is available. Open daily on Main Street in Johnson and at 119 Pearl Street in Essex. 802-730-8134 If you’d rather dine in, visit the Smugglers’ Country Store for all your grocery staples like bread, meat, vegetables and fruits, snacks and beverages. The store also stocks a wide variety of Vermont specialty items such as Lake Champlain Chocolates and jams and syrups from Butternut Mountain Farm in nearby Johnson.

The Farm Store in Jeffersonville offers fresh baked breads, Kombucha on tap, and local, organic daily deliveries of cheese, produce, meats, eggs and glass bottled milk. explore • 71

Featuring local ingredients and homemade creations from our chef’s kitchen.

Thursday, Friday, & Monday 11am - 9pm lunch & dinner

=

Saturday & Sunday 8am - 9pm breakfast, lunch & dinner Located at the intersection of Routes 15 & 108 in Jeffersonville, Vermont

John Raphael Chef/Owner

802.644.8920 • www.familytablevt.com explore • 73

events For sure, there’s a few things going on around here this winter! Don’t forget to refer to the Resort Information Guide for regular happenings like the daily Après Sport Parties with music, prizes and drink specials in the Black Bear Tavern, and the weekly Torchlight Parade and fireworks on the Village Green. Here’s what’s happening at Smuggs and in the area for special events…

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6

20th annual BrewFest, Part 1 Sample the finest in craft beers from breweries such as Vermont’s Long Trail, Fiddlehead, Drop-In, and Zero Gravity, plus Sam Adams, Woodchuck and Angry Orchard’s craft ciders. A DJ spins the tunes and the Resort’s Mountain Grille puts on a tasty appetizer buffet. From 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm in the Meeting House. Tickets are available at the door; $20 entry includes 8 samples, munchies, and a souvenir sampling glass. 21 and older, please. Plan a return visit for spring skiing - BrewFest Part 2 is March 28, 2015!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 -14

Vermont Ice Wine & Cocktail Open House at Boyden Winery. Visit the Boyden Valley Winery for their annual open house from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm to sample their Vermont Ice Wine, Vermont Ice Cream Liqueurs, and Ice Hard Cider. Linger on the outdoor patio and enjoy the warmth of the fire pit. Special cocktail tastings, 20% off Vermont Ice Wine, and more. The winery is located at the intersection of Routes 15 and 104 in Cambridge.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 – TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23

Elf Tuck-ins Thrill your little ones with a special bit of holiday magic, bedtime stories and treats! Our Smugglers’ elf will stop by for a visit and story. Available on the half hour between 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Please contact TREASURES at x1180 or the Guest Service Desk at x1293 for additional information. $20.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20

Santa’s Workshop Party Join Santa’s elves and Goodtime Charlie for a fun session of making Christmas lists and holiday crafts. Cookies and lemonade will be served.

Lower level of the Meeting House.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24

Christmas Eve Celebration Refer to the schedule in your check-in packet for complete information.

7:00 pm Evening events include a torchlight parade

by Snow Sport University instructors and fireworks that light up the Green Mountains, followed by carols and wish list sharing with Santa at the Resort Gazebo.

9:00 pm - 10:00 pm Candlelight Christmas Eve Service in the lower level of the Meeting House.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

New Year’s Eve There are celebrations at Smugglers’ for all ages with dance parties, a FunZone event, Kids’ Night Out at TREASURES child care, and karaoke at Bootleggers’ lounge. Usher in the New Year with a bonfire on the Village Green, and torchlight parade and fireworks against the backdrop of the Green Mountains.

The holiday schedule in your check-in packet has complete information.

photo by Chris Diegel, chdiegelphoto.smugmug.com 74 • explore

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9

Rails for Ryan Join us from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm for the 3rd Annual “Rails for Ryan” rail jam under the lights at the Madonna/Sterling Base Lodge. Competing and spectating are both FREE, with a suggested $5 donation to benefit the Flyin’ Ryan Foundation, established to honor the memory of local champion extreme skier Ryan Hawks ( www.flyinryanhawks.org). The Black Bear Tavern will be serving food and beverages throughout the event. Compete or simply join us for a good time.

Prizes will be awarded to those who step up and really throw down. Registration begins at 4:00 pm in the Base Lodge.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

Winter Trails Day An annual celebration of snowshoeing and cross country skiing free for those new to both sports and nationally sponsored by the Snow Sports Industries of America. Smugglers’ Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Adventure Center will provide free rentals and offer short instructional sessions from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm for first time snowshoers and cross country skiers. Cross country ski sessions will be held on the hour and snowshoeing sessions will be held on the half hour.

For more info, contact the Smugglers’ Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Adventure Center at (802)644-1173. Nationally sponsored by the Snow Sports Industries of America.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 - 25

Heritage WinterFest - Our community celebrates winter with many events put on by many people and community organizations! At Smugglers’, there’s an afternoon 5K cross country ski ramble hosted by the Nordic Center, followed by light snacks. Cross country ski equipment can be rented at the Nordic Center.

Around the area: Primitive Biathlon at Sterling Ridge Inn (spectators welcome) - this annual event based on the Olympic biathlon but using traditional style muzzleloading rifles and wood framed snowshoes attracts approximately 200 entrants each year. Other area activities include Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate

and Story Hour at the Varnum Library, Cambridge Rotary’s Pie for Breakfast, Cambridge Fire Department Auxiliary’s Lasagna Dinner, Boy Scouts host the climbing wall, Quarry Hill Farm Sledding Hill, Dog Sled Rides, ice skating with DJ & music, bonfire, contra dance sponsored by Cambridge Arts Council, Balloon Glow & Fireworks. Events are subject to change. Information: www.smugnotch.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Super Sunday. Come watch Super Bowl XLIX live

from Arizona’s University of Phoenix stadium on our 22 x 14-foot screen. Free halftime snack buffet with all your favorite munchies. In the lower level of the Meeting House; doors open at 5:30 pm.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8

14th Annual Northern Vermont Snowshoe Race and Family Snowshoe Festival - Smugglers’ and TSL

Snowshoes present this exciting day of treks, walks and races on snowshoes. There’s something for everyone: a 1/2K kids’ fun run, a 4K fun run/walk, and an 8K race that is a qualifier for the 2015 US Snowshoe Association National Championship. Rentals are available at the Nordic Center. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington, Vermont and the food shelf in Cambridge, Vermont.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15

Wine & Chocolate Weekend at the Boyden Winery.

On this special weekend, Boyden Winery will be featuring a new Vermont chocolate company, STiR Chocolates, featuring decadent and beautiful confections with inspired fillings infused with the local flavors of Boyden Valley’s wines and spirits. Meet the chocolatier and enjoy chocolate crafting demonstrations throughout the day, plus preselected wine and chocolate pairing samples. Free tours of the winery will be held at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. Wine tastings available all day for $10. STiR Chocolates available for purchase. 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

The winery is located at the intersection of Routes 15 and 104 in Cambridge.

Torchlight Parade lights up Morse every Thursday night at 8pm

 explore • 75

events TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Vermont Specialty Food Tasting. Sample delicious food products

made with ingredients from our Green Mountain State. Enjoy Cabot Cheese, maple products and much more … we recommend visiting the sample stand with an empty tummy!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19

FamilyFun Magazine Winter Carnival - Always a family favorite!

FamilyFun Magazine teams up with Smugglers’ for this special Winter Carnival on our Village Green featuring music and live entertainment plus face painting, games, a bonfire, giveaways and an outdoor barbeque. The festivities begin at 2:00 pm!

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Extreme Skiing Challenge - This weekend the Smugglers’ Notch Ski and Snowboard Club will be hosting the 2015 Smugglers’ Notch Extreme Skiing Challenge – an opportunity for junior and adult freeskiers to show their stuff on some of the most difficult terrain Smugglers’ Notch has to offer! The course is planned for the Madonna headwall, an ungroomed steep with a double fall line descent filled with cliffs, bumps, trees, chutes, and stumps.

Competitors will be judged on line, control, fluidity, technique and style.

As the competitors run the course on the headwall from just below Catwalk to just above Madonna midstation, the best seats in the house for watching the excitement will be on the Madonna summit lift. Spectators also can view from a roped off area at the Red Fox Glades near the finish area at the base of the Madonna headwall, easily accessed from midstation.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

Benefit Rail Jam - This special Rail Jam benefits the Molly Rowlee

Fund, which supports families with children undergoing treatment for cancer. This is the fifth year at Smuggs for this event, and it promises to again be awesome - come out and have some fun and support this great cause! The good times include music, giveaways, and a raffle. The cost to participate is $25. Register from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm at the Smugglers’ Notch Ski and Snowboard Club on Sterling. The event begins at 2:00 pm in front of the club.

Information about the Molly Fund can be found online at www.mollyrowlee.org.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Maple Open House Weekend – Celebrate the sweet taste of maple syrup during this annual event, when sugarmakers open their doors to visitors, with tours and an array of maple products for sale. Use Smugglers’ as your home base to visit maple sugarhouses! For a listing of open sugarhouses all around the state visit www.vermontmaple.org.

SmuggNotch.com

Maple Sugar Festival at the Boyden Valley Winery - The Boyden

Valley Winery will host a variety of family friendly activities from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm including sugar on snow, maple syrup sample tastings, demonstrations of maple sugaring with a traditional wood-fired evaporator, winery tours at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm (tours suitable for all ages). There will also be featured maple wines, liqueur, and Vermont Ice Hard Cider, and donuts with maple cream will be available at the sugar house while they last. The Boyden Valley Winery is conveniently located at the junction of Routes 104 and 15 in Cambridge, just 7 miles from Smugglers’ Notch! Free parking, no admission fee.

20th Annual BrewFest Part 2 – Sample the finest in craft beers! A DJ

spins the tunes and the Resort’s Mountain Grille puts on a tasty appetizer buffet, plus music, munchies and prizes. From 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm in the Meeting House. Tickets are available at the door. $20 entry includes 8 samples and souvenir glass. 21 and older please.

cambridgearts.org

Serving the community with great events like

Heritage WinterFest January 24th & 25th See a full schedule of events at SmuggNotch.com

Rails for Ryan — Friday January 9th, 6pm - 8pm at the Madonna/Sterling Base Lodge

photo by Chris Diegel, chdiegelphoto.smugmug.com

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events SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Maple Open House Weekend Celebrate the sweet taste of maple syrup during this annual event, when sugarmakers open their doors to visitors, with tours and an array of maple products for sale.

Use Smugglers’ as your home base to visit maple sugarhouses! Visit www.vermontmaple.org for a listing of open sugarhouses all around the state.

Maple Sugar Festival at the Boyden Valley Winery The Boyden Valley Winery will host a variety

of family friendly activities from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm including sugar on snow, maple syrup sample tastings, demonstrations of maple sugaring with a traditional wood-fired evaporator, winery tours at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm (tours suitable for all ages). There will also be featured maple wines, liqueur, and Vermont Ice Hard Cider, and donuts with maple cream will be available at the sugar house while they last. The Boyden Valley Winery is conveniently located at the junction of Routes 104 and 15 in Cambridge, just 7 miles from Smugglers’ Notch! Free parking, no admission fee.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2

Ski School vs. Ski Patrol Dual Slalom Race Pick your team and cheer them on! 5:00 pm on Morse Mountain.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

3rd annual Pond Skimming In the Zone Terrain Park.

The event is free. Registration starts at 10:00 am in the Base Lodge and the event starts at 12:00 noon. Prizes awarded for best costume. Spectators welcome.

Chillin & Grillin Annual Tailgate Party It’s more than blue skies and long sunny afternoons that bring skiers and riders together! Smugglers’ annual tailgate party will award cash and prizes to winners of the following categories: best overall tailgate presentation with 4F technology (food, flair, festive, fun); best original recipe; best Smuggs themed tailgate.

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Fine Art Galleries Vermont Preserved

By Master Painters

Eric Tobin

photo by Chris Diegel, chdiegelphoto.smugmug.com

40x50

Jack Winslow

oil

12x16

Karen Winslow

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17x24

TM Nicholas

Check out pond skimming on April 4, 2015 — fun for participants and spectators!

oil

oil

30x40

Winter Hours by appointment ….Or by chance (802) 644-8183

wwvisionsofvermont.com

Visions of Vermont

Fine Art Galleries 100 Main Street Jeffersonville

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A REPUTATION BUILT ON QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE.

YEAR-ROUND AND FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP AT SMUGGLERS’ IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR FAMILY, ENSURING THAT YOU’LL ENJOY GREAT VACATIONS AND ESTABLISH FAMILY TRADITIONS. Enjoy the many benefits that are included with full and fractional vacation home ownership from special discounts on lift tickets and lessons, Summer children’s programs to use of pools, waterparks, and recreational facilities, as well as discounts in our sport shops. Plus, you’ll receive potential rental income and the ability to exchange your vacation home through RCI (Resort Condominiums International) for other vacation opportunities worldwide! We know of no other similar resort that offers this type of comprehensive benefit package.

To learn more about the benefits of Real Estate Ownership at Smugglers’ Notch visit us in the Village Center while you are here, stop by our Open House or call extension 1122 to make an appointment.

Real Estate Betty Brgant, Broker bbrgant@smuggs.com 802-644-1122 www.smuggs.com/re 80 • explore

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Be a

Smuggler!

Winter 2014/15

A Smugg :

S eĐže o kn s th no height requ em t it c to ripp g up the m ta .

S eĐže o em a froz faci ha Đ°

t f m rath th

cĐžv i .

Someone who firmly believes that a visit to Doc Dempsey will cure what ails you.

S eĐže o kn s i not j t a lift ride, but a ch to m t y ep e f the aptly named Fr f .

Share why you’re a Smuggler #imasmuggler and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a 2015/16 Bash Badge.

Contest ends 4/12/15.

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Working Together

Help and guidance make learning—and banking—easier!

Getting to know people makes life more rewarding. Getting to know your goals, your hopes and dreams for your home and property—that’s what enables us to provide smart options and sound advice.

Working together. Knowing each other. Enjoying outcomes. That’s why you call Union Bank.

Mortgages | Home Equity Loans | BUILD | FHA | VA | VHFA

Call or visit us today!

802-644-6600 | 44 Main Street, Jeffersonville 1-866-862-1891 | www.UnionBankVT.com Member FDIC

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Equal Housing Lender