Snowboarder Encounters Black Bear at Northstar in Tahoe

When you’re snowboarding through inbounds backcountry powder at a ski resort, there are a lot of different things you can encounter. But you never expect a run in with a dangerous animal.

A snowboarder was riding through the powder near Lookout Mountain at Tahoe’s Northstar when he encountered a black bear climbing up a tree. Luckily for us, he was equipped with a camera to document the encounter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=acFFjEHqCpg

Well that’s a little startling! In the wintertime, it’s very rare to come across a bear since most are hibernating. But black bears don’t officially hibernate, but instead enter a lighter form of hibernation called torpor. In torpor, bears will emerge from their den during mild winter days to look for food.

So is there a lesson in all of this? Probably not. Just remember that when you’re in the outdoors, you’re in nature. So you could encounter anything. Be prepared and stay alert.