Feel the burn: NC ski resort sets snow on fire
With the light of a match, ski season is over.
Sugar Mountain staff held the annual "Burning of the Snow" event Wednesday afternoon to culminate another year of good skiing in the North Carolina mountains.
Watch the snow burn in the raw video below:
Media spokesperson, Kimberley Jochl told ABC11 that the event has been a ritual for more than 20 years.
The decision on when to close the slopes is highly dependent upon the weather. Jochl says they are able to keep the slopes longer when the weather remains cooler, and more snow is allowed to build up on the slopes. It's difficult to keep the slopes open when the weather warms up and the snow begins to melt.
Jochl says this year the slopes are closing right on schedule.
"We like to keep the slopes open to the last weekend in March if we can," she said. "This year we are just about there."
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is not the only slope to close for the season. Beech Mountain Ski Resort is also closed for the winter.
Cataloochi Ski Resort is planning on closing on Easter Weekend. Appalachian Ski Resort is planning on staying open through April 2nd, if the weather permits.
