VIDEO: Colorado skier has close encounter with bear at Keystone Resort on closing day
Technically, the black bears found in Colorado don't hibernate, but regardless, if spring skiing at Keystone Resort is any indication — they're awake
Courtesy photo
Closing day at Keystone Resort appeared to coincide with the end of the winter denning season for bears — as a black bear charged across a ski run Sunday, April 6.
Brian O’Neal, a Greenwood Village resident, had a close encounter with that bear Sunday. O’Neal said he was skiing with his son. It was their first run of the day. They were cutting from the Peru Express chairlift over to the Summit Express chairlift on Last Chance, a green beginner run.
“It happened so quick,” O’Neal said. “I was just trying not to run into it.”
O’Neil is the skier in the blue jacket in the video, who came face-to-face with the bear, turning out of its way on the ski run. He said a bystander captured the video and sent it to him.
“All of a sudden from the right side of my eye, side-vision, it was like, oh crap, here comes something,” O’Neal said. “Usually, you might see moose up there, but I’ve never seen a bear.”
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Sunday was closing day at Keystone Resort. It was the first mountain to close in Summit County, with spring skiing continuing at Breckenridge Ski Resort, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.
Keystone Resort shares the mountain with wildlife, including bears, Vail Resorts spokesperson Sara Lococo said in a statement. Anyone who encounters wildlife on the mountain should report sightings to the Keystone emergency service team, by calling 970-495-6991, she said.
“When recreating outdoors and in the mountains, it is important to always be aware of surroundings, to respect wildlife and give them plenty of space by observing from a distance, and to never approach, chase or feed wildlife,” Lococo said.
Technically, black bears — the only species of bears found in Colorado — don’t hibernate but go through a lighter sleep-state known as “torpor,” according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
With plenty of skiing to be had after that first run, O’Neal described Sunday as a “crazy fun last day of skiing at Keystone for the year” — bear encounter included.
This story is from SummitDaily.com
