Despite Temps, Slopes Open at Spring Mountain

This week's unseasonably warm weather may be welcome for those counting the days until beach season, but if you're the owner of the Spring Mountain ski area, it's bad news.

Owner Rick Buckman told KYW Newsradio this week that his staff has been working around the clock just to keep half the facility's trails open.

Buckman's difficulties are typical of the $6 billion ski resort industry, which is trying to rebound from its worst season in two decades due to unusually warm weather and low snowfall totals.

The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) said Tuesday that 2012 was the warmest year on record in the 48 contiguous United States, with a record warm spring, the second warmest summer, the fourth warmest winter and a warmer-than-average autumn.

For now, at least, skiing and ski classes are available at the Upper Salford facility until 9:00 p.m. daily. Snow tubing activities are not currently available, according to Spring Mountain's web site.

If the weather does get too warm for skiing, you can always go zip-lining.

You can check out a live webcam of the Spring Mountain ski area here.