Laughs
If you’re planning to ski at Spring Skiing Capital, Palisades Tahoe, California, or any other open California ski resorts for the rest of spring, bear in mind that bears are emerging from their dens and could greet you on the slopes at some of the ski resorts.
The most recent encounter was recorded yesterday, Sunday, April 14, on the Alpine side at Palisades Tahoe. A black bear greeted Sunday’s crowd of skiers and riders near the Roundhouse Ski Lift. While I personally missed the bear encounter, my friends were ready to share pictures and a video with me.
It is the second bear sighting in the past week. It could be the same young black bear that visited Palisades Tahoe a few days ago. He seemed disappointed with Granite Chief Peak’s closure sign by all accounts.
Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, April 2024
Heavenly Ski Resort, December 2023 and January 2024
There were several bear encounters at Tahoe’s Heavenly Ski Resort earlier this season which is a bit more unusual. In mid-December 2023, a black bear ran across the ski slopes while another was caught on camera in January 2024. Although the bears should be hibernating at this time of year, with the warm California winter, it’s also not unusual to see them during the winter months.
Northstar Ski Resort, March 2019
In March 2019, we bumped into a bear at Northstar near the Martis Camp area.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, November 2019
And how about the momma bear and cub at Mammoth in November 2019? While the list certainly goes on and on, please take this as a warning that bears can be encountered in many American ski resorts, particularly in California. If you encounter a bear, please do not chase it. Just give it a lot of space, and please inform ski patrol.
Enjoy your spring skiing!
