Professional trail runner Klaire Rhodes has opened up about surviving a terrifying brown bear attack while running alone on a familiar trail in Alaska, crediting quick action and bear spray with helping her escape the encounter.
Rhodes was running on the Wolverine Bowl Trail near the Prospect Heights trailhead in Anchorage on August 13 when she encountered the adult brown bear.
Although the route was one she regularly used for training, the run quickly turned into what she described as a “nightmare come to life.”
The North Face athlete was able to deploy bear spray during the attack before escaping and making her own way back to the trailhead.
Runner Sustains Puncture and Claw Injuries
Rhodes was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for a deep puncture wound to her left hip along with claw and teeth marks across her body.
Two days after the incident, Rhodes addressed the attack in an Instagram post, explaining that she did not initially want to provide a detailed account because she expected it could attract criticism and speculation online.
She said she was the only person present during the encounter and felt fortunate that her injuries were relatively minor considering how dangerous the situation could have become.
Rhodes added that she was particularly proud of how she reacted under extreme pressure, despite describing the experience as deeply traumatic.
Bear Spray Became Critical During the Attack
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game confirmed that an adult woman running alone had been injured after encountering a brown bear on the Wolverine Bowl Trail.
According to officials, the runner used bear spray before “self-rescuing” to the trailhead.
Wildlife biologists later interviewed Rhodes and searched the area for the bear and evidence of its activity, including collecting samples from the scene.
The animal was not located.
Rhodes later emphasized one particularly important lesson from the incident: “bear spray works.”
Her experience has also highlighted the importance of having a deterrent immediately accessible rather than buried inside a backpack during a potentially dangerous encounter.
Rhodes Refuses to Abandon the Chugach Trails
Despite the attack, Rhodes said the experience had not destroyed her connection to the Chugach trails, which have played a major role in both her personal life and professional training.
She described running in the Chugach as the place where she feels most at home, while acknowledging the reality that the wilderness is also the natural habitat of animals such as brown bears.
Rhodes said that understanding this risk is part of choosing to spend her life doing something she loves.
Her comments reflected the complicated emotions that followed the attack.
While she admitted that thoughts of returning to the woods had left her feeling uneasy, she also found herself eager to run again.
She said she was grateful to have survived with relatively limited injuries while recognizing that she would likely have to process the psychological impact of the encounter.
Bear Attack Disrupts Rhodes’ Racing Plans
The incident also interrupted an important stage of Rhodes’ competitive season.
She had been preparing for racing in Europe, with the CCC in Chamonix, France, listed among her upcoming events less than two weeks after the attack.
Rhodes said she was unsure whether her injuries and recovery would allow her to compete.
The professional runner acknowledged that missing part of her planned training block was disappointing but said the circumstances put the disruption into perspective.
What had been expected to be an intense week of preparation was instead becoming a period of rest as she recovered physically and began dealing with the emotional aftermath.
Rhodes’ Record Shows Why the Attack Is Significant
Rhodes is an established figure in trail running.
She describes herself as a professional trail runner and coach and signed with The North Face in 2024.
She has also built a strong record in Alaska, winning the demanding Mount Marathon Race for three consecutive years.
The race’s 3.1-mile course features more than 3,000 feet of climbing and descending.
Rhodes won the women’s event for the third straight year in July, completing the course in 49 minutes and 55 seconds, according to the Alaska Sports Report.
Her recent results also include a second-place finish at the Speedgoat 50K in July and victory in The Big Alta 50K in March, according to her UTMB profile.
Officials Issue Fresh Warnings to Trail Users
Authorities placed warning signs near the Prospect Heights trailhead following the attack and urged visitors to stay away from trails that have been closed.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game warned that dense summer vegetation can make it difficult for people and bears to see each other, increasing the possibility of a sudden encounter.
Officials advised people traveling through bear country to move in groups, make noise, keep pets leashed and carry an effective deterrent where it can be reached immediately.
They also stressed that people should never run from a bear.
If a bear remains stationary, hikers are advised to stay calm, hold their ground and retreat slowly rather than provoking or chasing the animal.
Officials Stress Proper Bear Spray Preparation
Wildlife officials also emphasized that carrying bear spray is only part of being prepared.
They recommend using an EPA-registered product with a range of at least 25 feet and containing between one and two percent capsaicin and capsaicinoids.
People are also advised to familiarize themselves with how to operate their spray before entering bear country and regularly check its expiration date.
Older canisters can lose pressure, potentially preventing the spray from deploying when it is most needed.
For Rhodes, those precautions became more than theoretical advice during a routine training run that suddenly became a fight for survival.
A Traumatic Experience With an Unexpectedly Hopeful Ending
Rhodes said the support she received from friends and others checking on her had been a major source of gratitude as she recovered.
While the attack forced her to replace a demanding training schedule with time on the couch, she remained hopeful that she would return to her normal activities relatively soon.
Her experience has left her balancing fear, gratitude and a continuing desire to return to the trails.
For an athlete whose career is built around running through rugged wilderness, the encounter served as a stark reminder that familiar terrain can still carry unpredictable dangers.
Yet Rhodes’ response also demonstrated why preparation, awareness and having bear spray within immediate reach can be crucial when humans share the landscape with large predators.
