SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A group of skiers crossed paths with a bear Friday on a ski run at South Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Mountain Resort.
Danielle Brilliant, who recorded video of the encounter, said she spotted the bear around 3:30 p.m. Friday while on the Mombo Run.
"It was just on the paved road, just sitting in the middle of the ski run," said Brilliant. "I couldn't believe my eyes."
She said she encountered the bear later on the actual slopes, admitting they're much faster than she expected as it began running behind her.
"His fur was shaking on each step, and that was intense. So I, at that moment, was like 'wow, I gotta get out of here,'" she said. "I felt like it was unpredictable."
Officials with the popular ski resort confirmed the bear sighting. In a statement, they asked guests to respect the space of animals if seen or encountered.
"As a resort that operates on National Forest lands, wildlife sightings can occur on occasion. We deeply respect the diverse species that inhabit the area within and surrounding the resort. In situations where these animals are noticed, we have specific protocols to prioritize the safety of our guests and employees and the well-being of these animals," Heavenly said in its statement. "This includes maintaining distance and promptly alerting our ski patrol, mountain safety, and security teams when needed. Thankfully, interactions between our guests and bears are infrequent as these animals usually move on quickly."
Brilliant agrees, suggesting folks "Have fun and enjoy. It's a special moment, but don't get too close for a picture. Just zoom in on your phone."
The encounter on Friday came nearly a month after skiers at the same resort came within inches of a bear that ran across a different, busy ski run.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that due to human-provided food, many bears in the area no longer need to hibernate during the winter.
Officials ask Sierra visitors to not keep any food in cars and to keep windows and doors locked.
Watch more from ABC10: CHP warns drivers about bears on the roads in Lake Tahoe
