Throwback Thursday

During the night of August 13, 1967, the unthinkable happened. Despite a 57-year history of experiencing no deaths as a result of grizzly bears, Glacier National Park experienced two in one night – in two separate incidents. It would become known as the Night of the Grizzlies, and the subject of a book and documentary film. One woman, a park employee, was killed on the west side of the park by an old and sick sow that was conditioned to human food, and was basically stalking the camping party that evening and throughout the night.

The second death occurred near the Granite Park Chalet, a backcountry lodge near the Continental Divide. Jack Olsen, the author of Night of the Grizzlies, concluded that the park was responsible for both deaths. In particular, he was highly critical of the park for allowing food to be thrown into a garbage dump, which was located near the campground just downhill from the chalet. The mauling took place at this backcountry campsite. Fortunately the park took the criticism to heart, and began to aggressively manage potential human-bear interactions, including the removal of the waste dump at Granite Park. Despite the tragic incident, the chalet remains as one of the most popular destinations for both day hikers and overnighters, and can be reached by one of the best hikes in the entire National Park system.




Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies