Klaire Rhodes survives brown bear attack in Alaska

Professional trail runner and North Face athlete Klaire Rhodes was attacked by a brown bear while running alone on the Wolverine Bowl Trail in Alaska. The incident occurred on a Thursday morning near the Prospect Heights trailhead.

Rhodes utilized bear spray during the encounter and managed to return to the trailhead without assistance. She was subsequently hospitalized for treatment of claw and bite marks across her body, including a deep puncture wound to her left hip. Rhodes described the experience as a ‘nightmare come to life’ but expressed pride in her ability to react under extreme pressure.

The attack has disrupted Rhodes’s training schedule as she had been preparing for upcoming races in Europe, including the CCC in Chamonix, France. Despite the injuries, she indicated an intention to return to trail running in the future.