Woman dies after 450-foot fall from Highline Trail
Hikers walk along the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park on Monday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
A 73-year-old woman fell to her death from the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Diane Bunker of Muscatine, Iowa, was hiking with a large group when she reportedly tripped and fell off the edge of the Highline Trail between Big Bend and Triple Arches at about 11 a.m.
Two Bear Air located Bunker about 450 feet below the trail. She had sustained “traumatic injuries,” according to a press release from the park, and was transported to the Flathead County coroner. An investigation is ongoing.
Officials closed Going-to-the-Sun Road between Big Bend and Logan Pass for about an hour on Wednesday to complete the recovery operation.
The Highline Trail is a popular hiking route between Logan Pass and Granite Park Chalet. The section of trail between Big Bend and Triple Arches traverses steep terrain and is exposed in places.
Bunker is the fourth person to die in Glacier National Park this year and the second person to die from injuries sustained in a fall. In July, a visitor from Utah died after falling from the west face of Mount Gould.
Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 758-4433 or hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com.