Glacier hikers ‘kept cool’ during grizzly attack

A section of Highline Trail in Glacier National Park remains closed from Haystack Butte to Granite Park Chalet after a visitor’s encounter with a bear on the morning of Sept. 19.  

The trail will reopen once park rangers patrolling the area can determine that the bear is no longer in the area.  

A 35-year-old male from Washington state was hiking on Highline Trail with his hiking party near the Grinnell Glacier Overlook trailhead when he surprised a bear at close range. The man was bitten below the knee. Members of the hiking party used bear spray to drive the bear away.  

“The hiking party was walking into the wind and faced foggy conditions, which could have contributed to the encounter,” said John Waller, supervisory wildlife biologist. “They were well prepared with bear spray, a satellite communication device, a first aid kit, were hiking as a group, and kept their cool when dealing with the bear.”  

They used a satellite communication device to contact park dispatch to report the incident and received instructions on how to bandage the wound. They were able to stop the bleeding with a first-aid kit.   

The injured visitor hiked to Granite Park Chalet with assistance from rangers and other hikers where he was met by Two Bear Air and flown to the Apgar horse corrals, then transported by Three Rivers ambulance to the Whitefish hospital. The injuries were non-life threatening.  

Based on information from witnesses, park wildlife biologists have determined it was a grizzly bear, most likely a male. 

“At this time, no action will be taken against the bear, because it was a surprise encounter,” said Waller.  

Visitors are reminded that the fall season is when bears are more likely to be active due to hyperphagia. As bears prepare for the long season of winter, during which they will hibernate, they need to eat as much as they can to prepare to go months without food. For more information about recreating in bear country, please visit the park’s bear safety webpage.  

Other closures in Glacier due to bear activity include Sperry Trail between Sperry Chalet and Comeau Pass, and Oldman Lake Wilderness Campground.  

Visitors are also reminded that trail access in Many Glacier Valley is affected in the Swiftcurrent area due to construction. For information on trail closures in the park, visit the park’s trail status webpage.