Grizzly bear ‘Split Lip’ visits Lake Louise ski run during Santa Slalom races

A well-known Bow Valley grizzly bear named Split Lip dropped by a ski event at Lake Louise Ski Resort Sunday before wandering off.

Skiers at Lake Louise got a reminder recently that not every bear hibernates all winter long.

Parks Canada says on Saturday, Grizzly Bear 136—also known as “Split Lip”—walked from the parking lot up to the Juniper runs area.

The Lake Louise Ski Club was hosting its annual Santa Slalom races at the time.

The races halted.

Parks Canada staff responded and monitored Split Lip until he disappeared into the backcountry.

“It’s not unheard of, (but) it’s not a very common occurrence,” said Rich Burkley, Lake Louise Ski Resort CEO.

“Certainly, lynx we have on the mountain during the winter quite a bit, and then lots of other wildlife as well.

“The same protocols apply for all of them, and we just try and give them their space.”

Split Lip was seen heading to Boulder Pass, perhaps to hibernate.

The bear was recently in the news when CTV reported in mid-November that it had paused a long rivalry with another famous Bow Valley grizzly, The Boss, in order to forage for winter hibernation.

Split Lip was photographed by wildlife photographer Jason Leo Bantle.

Lake Louise made the gossip pages around the world early in October, when Justin Bieber and wife Hailey posted photos on their social media feeds of themselves enjoying a weekend at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where the duo celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary.

With files from Shannon Johnston