On August 13, professional runner Klaire Rhodes, 28, had a scary encounter with a grizzly bear while trail running alone on the Wolverine Bowl Trail near Anchorage, Alaska’s Prospect Heights trailhead. Thankfully, her successful deployment of bear spray prevented a worse outcome.
According to a report from The Guardian, the attacking bear left Rhodes with deep puncture wounds on her left hip and claw and teeth marks on her body. Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials say that her successful use of bear spray was a factor in ending the attack, at which point she self-rescued to the trailhead and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Per an Instagram post from Rhodes about the situation, the encounter took place on a trail she runs weekly: “The moment felt like a nightmare come to life,” wrote the running star…