Young Skier Dodges Deer at Aptly-Named Ski Resort
It’s in the name, after all.
During opening weekend at Deer Valley, Utah, a young skier wasn’t buzzed by other people on the slopes. Instead, it was a trio of fast-moving deer that nearly took them out.
The video, captured by Abbi Lathrop Martz and shared with TownLift, a news outlet local to Park City, Utah, proves that it isn’t always reckless skiers you need to watch out for—wildlife can complicate a ski day, too.
Tap or click to watch the video below. Keep reading for more.
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Talk about a core memory for this youngster.
Is nearly getting run over by a deer memorable in a good way or a bad way, though? Hard to say. At the very least, the skier was left with a great story to tell their friends. You can ski a black diamond?Cool. I dodged three deer—at Deer Valley.
Wildlife encounters at ski resorts are hardly unheard of.
Last winter, a moose was spotted trotting across the slopes of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. A bit scarier are bear sightings, which have happened at other mountains. These brushes between skiers and the natural world serve as a reminder: ski resorts might, at times, feel like theme parks, but in the end, we’re still visitors on the turf of bears, moose, deer, and other critters.
Photo: Deer Valley Resort
What’s most important is that skiers give wildlife space, both for our safety and the safety of the animals. As a blog post published by Steamboat advised, “While moose may appear to be friendly and harmless, they can actually be extremely aggressive and unpredictable.” You probably don’t need a blog post to explain why trying to take a selfie with a bear is a bad idea.
This past weekend marked the launch of Deer Valley’s 2025-26 ski season. Like many other resorts in Utah, it had delayed its opening amid mild temperatures, but recent days have seen more wintry weather, with Deer Valley tallying nine inches of new snow. The season, finally, is underway. Let’s hope it stays cold.
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