Close Call at Keystone: Skier Narrowly Escapes Charging Bear in Viral Video

Who put the bear on Jerry Duty??

One skier’s casual cruise at Colorado’s Keystone Resort turned into a heart-pounding wildlife encounter. In a moment that’s gone viral across social media, a skier narrowly dodged a charging black bear that sprinted across the trail just feet away from them.

Captured by a fellow skier’s helmet cam, the footage shows the bear emerging suddenly from a tree line and barreling downhill—directly into the path of the skier before veering off in the nick of time. The entire interaction lasted only a few seconds but underscores the unpredictable presence of wildlife in mountain environments, even at popular resort areas.

While bear sightings aren’t unheard of in Colorado, especially in spring as animals emerge from hibernation, this kind of close-range encounter on an active ski run is rare. According to local experts, the bear likely felt startled or disoriented—possibly drawn toward the trail by residual food smells or noise—and took the fastest route to safety.

Wildlife officials remind skiers and riders that even on groomed runs, resorts nestled near backcountry terrain share space with the region’s wild inhabitants. Staying alert, avoiding food storage in pockets, and respecting boundaries are all key to preventing dangerous encounters.

Fortunately, no one was harmed in the incident—bear or human—and the skier involved managed to ski away unscathed, if a little shaken.