Woman dies after falling off Highline Trail in Glacier National Park
Hungry Horse News | Hungry Horse News | UPDATED 1 year AGO
Looking down at the Sun Road from the Highline Trail in this file photo.
An Iowa woman died from a fall off the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Glacier Park officials said Diane Bunker, 73, of Muscatine was hiking with a large group and tripped and fell off the edge of the trail, out of sight from her hiking party between Big Bend and Triple Arches.
The Two Bear Air helicopter conducted a search and found Bunker's body about 450 feet below the trail.
Bunker’s body was brought to the Apgar horse corrals and transferred to the Flathead County coroner. An investigation is ongoing.
The Sun Road was closed in the area for about 45 minutes during the search and recovery.
The Highline Trail is one of the most popular in Glacier, but it does have several areas where it drops off steeply and there is nothing to stop a fall, particularly if someone starts to tumble.
Glacier National Park staff expressed their condolences to the family.
Falling and drowning are the two leading causes of accidental death in the park.