We have a Three-fer for you this week

• Winterlude Trip to Ottawa is on!
• First Après Speaker Adam Howard of Back Country Magazine
• This week we meet at the Yurt

1) Winterlude in Ottawa

Heidi Crossman has put together a wonderfully fun getaway to Ottawa’s always-excellent annual Winterlude festival, from Friday, February 6th through the 8th. Nineteen club members have already signed up, and the trip is shaping up to be a great time.

Heidi has also secured a very attractive group rate at the Fairmont Château Laurier—$150 per room per night (possibly less). The weekend offers plenty to enjoy: skating the Rideau Canal, admiring the ice sculptures, and soaking in the city’s lively winter atmosphere, all shared with good friends.

If you’d like to be part of the trip, please get in touch with Heidi at 802-309-9245 or heidicrossma@gmail.com

Space is limited. This is an arrange-your-own-transport outing; about a four hour drive. Passports highly recommended.

2) Après Ski Speaker Adam Howard – Height Of Land Publications

The Smuggs 55+ Club 2025-26 Après Speaker Series begins this week, Wednesday, Dec. 10, with Adam Howard, owner and publisher of Height of Land Publications  — Alpinist, Backcountry, Cross Country Skier, and Mountain Flyer — sharing photos and stories from his adventure to Antarctica. Gather at 1 p.m. in Bootleggers’ Lounge in the Village at Smugglers’ Notch Resort with a packed lunch. (Enter by the door from the parking lot, where our sandwich- board sign will be set up. We will be the only ones in the building this week.) The speaker begins at 1:30. All ages are welcome to attend. The program is free for Smuggs 55+ Club members; $5 for guests.

Next week, Wednesday, Dec. 17, our Après Speaker Series features Noah Dines, world record holder for the most human-powered vertical feet skied in one year.

3) Meet at the Yurt This week.

This week will gather at the Yurt to dress and go around 9:30.

We had a plenty of folks show up last week – an epic start – around 40 total??. We owned the place. The cold and snowfall continues. The coverage and skiing is good.

The resort’s opening day is next Friday, December 12^th. Until then the Grill and the Village lodge remain closed. Sterling lift is open with the snow report showing most of the trails and some of the woods open.

As of today, none of the Cross Country trails are open.