Elite Anchorage Trail Runner Klaire Rhodes Mauled by Brown Bear, Sustains Minor Injuries
Klaire Rhodes, a prominent Anchorage trail runner and three-time Mount Marathon winner, was mauled by a brown bear last Thursday morning on the Wolverine Bowl trail in Chugach State Park. Rhodes, who races internationally, disclosed the incident in an Instagram post, describing her injuries as 'relatively minor,' including a deep puncture wound on her hip and claw and teeth marks on her body. She attributed her fortunate outcome to the bear spray she was carrying and used during the attack. Rhodes managed to return to the trailhead independently, where firefighters met her. She declined an ambulance, opting for private transport. Wildlife biologists have since interviewed Rhodes and visited the attack site to collect samples and search for the bear. The incident occurred on a trail Rhodes runs weekly, and she expressed that while running in the Chugach feels like home, it is also the home of wildlife, acknowledging the inherent risks. 
