Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Video: Skier nearly collides with black bear at Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe

Who knew black bears were a skiing hazard?

By
Heavenly Ski Resort on a blue-sky day
Martin Eckert / Openverse

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there are a couple of golden rules when it comes to skiing and snowboarding: Don’t traverse across a busy trail and make sure whoever is downhill from you is given ample space and right of way. Well, this bear at Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe might not be getting back on the slopes anytime soon.

Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Ski Resort covers a whopping 4,800 square acres – one of the largest ski resorts in the Sierra Mountain Range. And as big as an area that is, the odds of running into a black bear on the slopes are relatively low, let alone one chasing after you.

Recommended Videos

But recently, a skier under the TikTok handle @tao7570 had the close call of a lifetime, missing out on getting trampled by a rather large black bear by mere inches at the California Resort. Tao captured the whole incident on their GoPro helmet cam, broadcasting the whole incident in incredible quality.

Related
@tao7570

Almost hit a bear skiing down ridgerun Heavenly. Didn’t realize it was a bear until it was too close #Tahoe #LakeTahoe #tahoelife #travel #heavenly #ski #bear #wildanimals

♬ original sound – Tao

“Almost hit a bear skiing down ridge run Heavenly,” Tao captioned after posting the incident on TikTok. “Didn’t realize it was a bear until it was too close.”

Commenters quickly jumped at the opportunity to pun-ify the incident with comments like:

“Bearly made it! 🐻 ⛷️”

and

“I could BEARly watch. I was afraid of a GRIZZLY outcome or PANDAmonium, but it turned out to be the POLAR opposite, a KODIAK moment!”

But bear run-ins are no laughing matter. While unbelievably cool and picturesque it is to come across one, bears — especially grizzlies — can become aggressive in a matter of seconds.

“You are responsible for your safety and the safety of wildlife,” says Heavenly Ski Resort. “Please help keep wildlife ‘wild’ by not approaching or feeding animals as they may become aggressive. Our food may harm animals or even cause them death.”

Heavenly Ski Resort also reminds guests to maintain a safe viewing distance, and if an animal approaches, it is your responsibility to move away and maintain a safe distance.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Louis Cinquanto
Louis Cinquanto
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Writing for all of the adventurers out there! Ski the East! #getoutside
This van life camper van sleeps 8, goes everywhere, and you can rent it for less than a hotel would cost
Explore the best of the U.S. in these custom-built, four-wheel-drive, go-anywhere rigs
Moterra Campervan rental parked in a Utah National Park campsite.

The quintessential image of modern van life is one of unbridled freedom, of taking to the open road, of living on your terms and going whichever the wind takes you. While that can be pretty accurate, actually living the van life can also be expensive. There’s buying the van, the time and investment required for building it out, and, of course, the looming cost of repairs, which can seriously add up. But what if you could have all the fun of van living without the expense and hassle of actually owning a campervan? That’s where comes in.

Here’s the low-down on Moterra Campervans
Moterra Campervans is a rental agency offering short-term campervan rentals in the United States. These aren’t your old-school Westfalias (no disrespect intended) but high-end, late-model, four-wheel-drive, van life-worthy rigs ready to take you just about anywhere. Picture your next vacation: Trading in your typical hotel room and boring rental sedan for a go-anywhere van life rig purpose-built for exploration.

Read more
Travel tips: 5 easy ways to pack more efficiently for your skiing or snowboarding trip
Skier in Japan powder

Traveling is one of the best parts of being a skier or snowboarder. Across the globe, there's an abundance of ski resorts and mountain ranges, each offering a unique experience on the snow. Getting there can be a challenge, especially in places that are very far off the beaten path. From travel logistics to gear choices, it’s essential to optimize your plans and equipment so you can enjoy the mountains to the fullest. If not, your trip can be a series of hangups.

For a seamless getaway, we’ve compiled five travel tips to help you pack for your skiing or snowboarding getaway. Let’s dive in.

Read more
Video: Skiers and snowboarders in Jackson Hole have a scary encounter with a frantic moose
A moose on a snowy road

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is a freerider’s paradise. Set amongst the jagged, awe-inspiring Teton Range, the resort offers a big-mountain experience second to none. Cliffs, steeps, and couloirs challenge even the most seasoned skiers and riders, and the Aerial Tram provides panoramic views on the way to the top. When you want to get after it, Jackson Hole’s the place to be.

When you set out on a morning run, you have a winter canvas in front, where you can paint lines to your heart’s content. What you won’t expect is a moose galloping alongside, like a thoroughbred released from the starting gate. But that’s just what happened to one skier on a recent trip to the famed resort. Here’s what happened.

Read more