Bear Encounter Victim Identified

This news is a little old, but I've been out of town, and thought the story was still important. Sadly, a hiker was killed in Glacier National Park last week. Here's what the park has released so far:

The body of a missing hiker has been recovered and identified as Anthony Pollio, a 33-year-old man from Davie, Florida. Pollio’s body was discovered by search and rescue crews at approximately 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, in Glacier National Park. The National Park Service withholds victim identity until 72 hours after next-of-kin notification.

On Sunday, May 3, Pollio communicated plans to hike the Mt. Brown Trail toward the Mt. Brown Fire Lookout. Park officials were notified of Pollio’s disappearance on Monday afternoon and initiated search and rescue operations.

Search and rescue teams located some of Pollio’s personal items along the Mt. Brown Trail approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead, which prompted a focused search of the surrounding area. Pollio was discovered deceased approximately 50 feet off the trail in a densely wooded area with injuries consistent with a bear encounter.

The sequence of events leading to the bear encounter remains under investigation; however, evidence suggests that this was a surprise encounter.

Temporary Trail Closures
The section of trail where the incident occurred has been temporarily closed while the investigation continues (it appears it's now open). Park staff are working to determine next steps based on field assessments and wildlife behavior monitoring.

Find up-to-date trail closure information on the Trail Status Reports page.

Additional background
Media reports indicate that Pollio hiked to the lookout on Mt. Brown to watch the sunset. Thus, not only was he hiking at dusk or even in the dark, but he was hiking alone. Combined, these two facts are a recipe for disaster in grizzly country.

The last human fatality caused by a bear in Glacier occurred in 1998 in the Two Medicine Valley. The last time a bear injured a human was in August 2025.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new edition on hiking history is available on Amazon

The significance of the Industrial Revolution on hiking

The following is an adaptation from Ramble On: A History of Hiking.

While overcoming a fear of mountains and the gradual breakdown in the social stigmas associated with walking certainly enabled hiking to germinate, I would argue that the single most important event to spur the development of hiking was the Industrial Revolution. The social changes brought about by industrialization were profound. As explained in much more detail in Ramble On: A History of Hiking, industrialization triggered a massive backlash from certain segments of society, which inspired movements in art, philosophy and religion. These movements, in turn, would motivate people - in one way or another - to visit wilderness areas for recreational purposes. As industrialization progressed, especially in America, it gave rise to the labor movement, which eventually resulted in increased wages and significant reductions in the average number of hours worked each week. Thus, workers began to enjoy more free time, many of whom pursued recreation in the great outdoors. Industrialization also gave rise to railroads, automobiles and roads, which provided people with the ability to travel more easily to wilderness areas. As a result of these social transformations and movements, hiking emerged as a pastime. Though it was only a fringe activity in the early 1800s, the sport grew steadily through the Great Depression. After World War II, however, it exploded, and has now become one of the world's most popular outdoor activities.

Learn more about Ramble On: A History of Hiking on my author page.

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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.

On this date in hiking history: Glacier becomes America’s 8th national park

On this date in 1910, Glacier became America’s 8th national park. Take a step back in time and check out this quick tour of the park from the 1920s:





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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

A Young Granite Park Chalet

The two photos below of the Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park were taken by T. J. Hileman in 1925, just ten years after it was constructed by the Great Northern Railway. The rustic lodge was the last of the nine backcountry chalets built by the railroad, all of which were part of an interconnected system of trails, tent camps, backcountry chalets and frontcountry lodges [more details on this system here]. All were constructed to provide comfortable accommodations within Glacier during the era before automobile travel become an important mode of transportation. Both Sperry and Granite Park, the only chalets that survive to this day, still offer overnight accommodations for hikers. Both are National Historic Landmarks.

Compared to Sperry Chalet, the Granite Park Chalet is much more basic, and is essentially a simple hiker's hostel, with virtually no amenities. It has 12 guest rooms, each with 2 to 6 bunks. Although there's no electricity, the common-area kitchen does have a propane stove that you can use to cook a warm lunch or dinner. The chalet also sells packaged foods, beverages, snacks, and bottled water to day hikers.

Although accommodations are limited, the chalet is still a popular destination for hikers on the Highline Trail, as the upfront views of Heavens Peak are second to none:

Here's another photo of a "man playing with bear at Granite Chalet" in 1924. This photo was taken by John Morten:

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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Gran Teton posts construction updates

Gran Teton National Park posted this blurb on their social media yesterday:

Planning a trip to Grand Teton National Park this spring? Most of the park is OPEN and ready to explore 🏔️

Scenic drives, hiking trails, visitor centers, and campgrounds are available across much of the park.

🚧 A few construction areas to plan around:

• Death Canyon Road/Trailhead: closed

• Moose-Wilson Road: open between Granite Entrance and Rockefeller Preserve

• Moose/Teton Park Road area: occasional short delays possible

• Taggart Lake Trail: hiking detour in place

✨ Bottom line: classic Grand Teton experiences, like Colter Bay and driving the Teton Park Road are here—just allow extra travel time and check conditions before you go. 🔗 nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/road-construction.htm

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new edition on hiking history is available on Amazon