Overview
- The encounter, which occurred Thursday, May 28, on a snowfield about 3.5 miles up the Grinnell Glacier Trail, left a 32-year-old hiker with a fractured arm after the bear charged him.
- Nearby hikers gave immediate first aid and sent an SOS that park dispatch logged at about 12:51 p.m., and an ALERT helicopter flew the injured man to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell with non-life-threatening injuries.
- The National Park Service described the episode as a “surprise encounter” and has temporarily closed the Grinnell Glacier Trail while staff investigate the sequence of events.
- Park officials say rushing water and snowfield terrain likely masked human and bear movement, a factor that can produce close-range surprises in dense or low-visibility areas.
- The May 28 attack comes weeks after a May 6 hiker death in the park that had injuries consistent with a bear encounter, increasing public concern and keeping park managers under pressure to consider further safety or access measures.