Hugh Johnson and family

“Gooood morning skiers and riders!” Anyone who skis in Northern Vermont can hear the voice in their head, even when just reading the words. That’s Smugglers’ Notch snow reporter Hugh Johnson, who has provided the daily snow conditions as well as a local’s perspective of the Smuggs world for more than 25 years. During the winter, Hugh is up before dawn, often catching first chair with ski patrol or hiking to the top of Madonna to get the very first look at the mountain. After checking in with Patrol, Grooming, and Snowmaking, he writes up the snow report and contacts countless media outlets to update the public. Then it’s back to the hill to check out the trails and take photos to be posted on social media and the Hugh’s Views page of the Smuggs app. Whenever there is an event happening on-snow, you will hear Hugh on the microphone, that singular voice booming through the mountain air chronicling the performances of freeski competitors, parking lot revelers, and pond skimmers alike.

In the summertime, Hugh is a busy timber framer. This summer however, he began to feel unwell, with severe pain and nausea which kept him from sleeping and caused him to lose weight at an alarming rate. After several weeks of this, Hugh was no longer able to work. He went to the emergency room on three separate occasions and was sent home with no diagnosis or suggestions for relief of his symptoms. He has since seen specialists and had numerous tests and imaging done, but no one can figure out why these symptoms are occurring.

Meanwhile, as winter looms, Hugh’s wife Harley, the Director of Children’s Programs and Snow Sport University at Smugglers’, is facing her busiest time of year, during which she often works 10-hour days at the mountain. Their three school-aged kids do not drive (the oldest, who typically can drive, is recovering from knee surgery), and while they can generally ride the bus to school when it is available, they rely on friends and family to get them to and from sporting events, doctors’ appointments, and after-school activities as Hugh is not comfortable driving in his weakened and sleep-deprived state. To add to the immense stress of the situation, the family has been operating on a single income for several months, and this will continue for the foreseeable future.

This page was started by friends of this family who have contributed so much to the Smugglers’ Notch community and beyond. Please consider a donation to help cover living expenses until Hugh recovers and is able to return to work.