Skiing or snowboarding comes with inherent risks. However, colliding with a bear on the slopes is rarely one of them!
However, that’s not the case in the Lake Tahoe region over the past year. Three bear incidents have taken place during that period, the latest one this week at Heavenly ski resort.
Potential danger is a possibility on even the most tame ski resort run. But colliding with a bear – very unlikely. But don’t tell that to snowboarder Hunter Martinez, who was grazed earlier this week by a bear sprinting across a run at Heavenly.
In a video shared by a friend – Ekalak Lakshana on Instagram – Martinez was behind Lakshana, who was filming himself speeding down the Ridge Run (accessed via the Canyon Chair) when the black bear came charging from the left side of the slope. Lakshana sped past the trouble, but Martinez was not as fortunate.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE.
Lakshana turned around to see Martinez have a mild collision with the bear, creating a giant cloud of powder. The bear took off running almost immediately and the unfazed Martinez quickly returned to heading down the groomed run.
“He (Martinez) gave me a fist bump before cruising down the slope, so all ended well,” Lakshana said. “When I saw the bear coming at me, all I could think was, ‘Today is not the day, you’re not catching me. I’ve seen bears near the slopes before, but never one running right in the middle (of a run) like this.”
While an uncommon occurrence, encountering a bear in Tahoe is not that rare. One incident took place last December at Heavenly and another one happened in early April 2024 at Palisades Tahoe. Neither one involved a collision with the bear or any injuries.
In the previous Heavenly incident, also on Ridge Run, the black bear made it across unscathed, returning to its mother and sibling on the other side of the trail. And the bewildered skiers continued their way safely down the intermediate run, secure in the knowledge they will have a wild story to tell for a lifetime.
“In this case, it appears this bear was just looking to find some fresh tracks out on the mountain like the rest of us,” Heavenly spokesperson Cole Zimmerman said in jest. “You know you’re at Heavenly when even the bears are taking in those views down Ridge Run.”
SAFETY FIRST: If you do see a bear while skiing or otherwise, never approach it. Give bears, and any other wild animals you might see on the slopes plenty of space and promptly alert the ski patrol.
If you see a bear on the slopes, make sure to maintain a healthy amount of distance. While it can be incredible to see wildlife in bounds, it’s best not to approach any animals, especially a bear.
California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife says because of the increase in human-provided food, some bears don’t need to hibernate through the winter anymore. The organization cautions people not to get too close for a picture, advising just to zoom in on your phone.
Peter Tira, a spokesperson for Fish and Wildlife, said it’s fairly common to spot bears on ski resorts. There are reportedly 300-400 black bears in the Tahoe area.
