Hikers Encounter Grizzly Bears in Glacier National Park

<p>Two hikers experienced a close encounter with two grizzly bears while hiking in Glacier National Park over Memorial Day weekend. The incident was recorded on video and shared on Instagram by hiker Mason Van Zeeland, who was with Alyssa Olsen at the time.</p><p>Prior to the encounter, other hikers had informed them about bear sightings on the trail. During the encounter, one bear ran past the hikers while a second bear stopped nearby. Olsen described the moment, stating, "I was kind of like, joking, and then the bear growled and I was like, 'Oh no, this ain't happy times anymore.'" The video captures the escalating situation, with Olsen expressing concern as the bears moved through the area.</p><p>Initially, the hikers considered waiting out the encounter, but their plan changed when one bear focused its attention on them. Van Zeeland then used bear spray, which caused the bear to retreat into the woods. Both bears and the hikers were unharmed.</p><p>The National Park Service advises hikers to maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from bears, carry bear spray, avoid running during encounters, and back away slowly if a bear is nearby. This incident follows a recent bear-related fatality in the park, marking the first deadly bear attack in Glacier National Park since 1998.</p>