Avalanche trail closed after bear encounter

Hungry Horse News

The Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park was closed for a few days last week after a man and a woman encountered a bear on the trail June 5.

The bear did no harm, but the woman apparently broke her arm after her husband pushed her away from the bruin and she fell.

It wasn't clear if the bear was a grizzly or black bear. The trail reopened June 10 but then was posted for bears again June 13 after another hiker had a run-in with a bear.

Park officials recommend carrying bear pepper spray when hiking in Glacier.

Separately, a black bear prowling around the Lake McDonald backcountry campsite has forced the closure of that camp. The persistent bear wouldn't leave the area.

Park rangers had set up camp there to haze the bear away if it returns, said Park spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt.