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Hikers scramble cliff after bear encounter on trail
3 Jun
Summary
- Hikers climbed a cliff to escape a bear on Grinnell Glacier Trail.
- The incident occurred less than a month after a fatal bear attack.
- Park experts cite dense vegetation and trail use for encounters.
Hikers on Montana's Grinnell Glacier Trail recently had to scramble up a cliff to escape a bear, raising alarms in Glacier National Park. This event follows closely on the heels of the park's first fatal bear attack in more than 20 years, which occurred earlier this month.
The Grinnell Glacier Trail was temporarily closed following the Thursday encounter, described as a "surprise encounter" by park officials. Reports indicated that one witness saw a man distressed about a bear attack, and with bears reportedly approaching from both directions, he and his sister sought safety by climbing a cliff.
Experts note that Glacier National Park's bears are not inherently more aggressive. Instead, the combination of dense vegetation, challenging terrain, and high visitor numbers on trails can lead to unexpected close encounters between people and bears.
Park officials emphasize preventative measures such as hiking in groups, making noise, staying alert, and carrying accessible bear spray. These guidelines aim to give bears ample opportunity to detect humans from a distance, thus reducing the risk of dangerous encounters.
