Skiers at an American ski resort were in for a surprise last week when two bears made an appearance in a tree right next to the chairlift. The incident occurred at Mammoth Mountain, a Californian ski resort built on a lava dome. The mama and baby bear were captured in a short video before they scurried off, although they were seen by several other skiers wandering in and around the ski area.
While it's unusual, this isn't the first time bears have been seen in a ski area. One Facebook user commented that at another American ski resort, a mama bear and cubs had to be tranquilized and brought down in the gondola to get them away from the nursery slope. Luckily, no such drastic actions were necessary this time! Although many ski resorts are located in bear country, skiers and bears don't usually cross paths because bears are supposed to be hibernating in winter. Mammoth Mountain has reported that the bears climbed quickly down the tree and left the area, but that the ski resort will continue to monitor their whereabouts for the safety of the bears and everyone on the mountain.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
