Lake Louise Ski Resort in Alberta is known for it’s breathtaking views from the top of the gondola and some of Canada’s best ski terrain. With 4,200 acres of terrain spread out over four mountain faces, Lake Louise offers an incredibly diverse experience for skiers of all abilities levels.
During the summer months, Lake Louise offers sight-seeing gondola rides where guests have the chance to view some of its resident wildlife from a bird’s-eye view including its resident grizzly bears. From the safety of an enclosed cabin, guests can easily spot bears in grassy ski runs while allowing the animals to roam undisturbed below. Grizzly bears can be reliably found on the ski slopes due to the abundance of food.
While grizzly bears are a common sight on Lake Louise’s vast trail network during summer months, they have also been known to come out of hibernation and roam the slopes during the spring ski season. That is exactly what happened last April when British snowboarder James Hardy encountered a grizzly bear while riding the Cameron’s Way intermediate ski trail.
The grizzly bear was already known to resort officials and had been sighted earlier that day on a closed trail. Lake Louise staff had closed affected areas and monitored the situation closely in conjunction with Parks Canada but the bear managed to find its way onto an active slope leading to this close encounter.
Hardy and his riding partner inadvertently came within the 100-meter distance that Parks Canada requires people to maintain from grizzly bears. Although the bear appeared to follow them briefly, Hardy described the encounter as non-aggressive. Learn more about Lake Louise Ski Resort grizzly bear safety below.
Lake Louise Ski Resort Bear Safety Guidelines:
You can minimize the chances of a close encounter with a bear by following these tips:
- Make Noise: Bears usually avoid humans if they hear them coming. Clap, talk, or sing to let bears know you’re around.
- Keep Dogs on Leash: Unleashed dogs can provoke bears. Keeping them leashed helps protect both you and your pet.
- Stay on Marked Trails: This reduces the chance of surprising a bear. Bears are less likely to be on well-used paths.
- Travel in Groups: Groups are noisier and more intimidating to bears. Plus, there’s safety in numbers.
- Avoid Large Dead Animals: If you encounter a large dead animal, leave the area immediately and report it to park staff.
- Store Food Properly: Use bear-proof containers or hang food high in a tree. Never leave food unattended.
