Alaska News

Another bear sighting on Anchorage Nordic ski trails

Anchorage-area Nordic skiers are reporting good and bad news on a local public forum for ski buffs. Good news first: ski trails across the bowl are described variously as "fast," "SUPER," and very nice, with most newly groomed for skaters and cross-country skiers.

Particularly good skiing and snowshoeing is reported in South Anchorage, but that's also where the bad news is cropping up: Skiers posted Saturday morning on Cross Country Alaska that they'd spotted fresh black bear tracks at the top of Rover's Run, near Service High School.

Friday, a skier posted they'd actually seen a bear near a place known as "Conversation Corner" on the Hillside.

Bears are nothing new in the Hillside region of Alaska's largest city. But bears in sub-zero temperatures just before Thanksgiving, many weeks after winter has begun, are rare. Most bears are well into hibernation by now.

One commenter suggested ordering a prescription sleeping aid, Ambien, for the insomniac bears.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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