This photo is dedicated to the young man who lost his life during a grizzly encounter in Glacier National Park on May 6th 2026.
I was in the park that day, too. I’d never met him, but no doubt we were after the same things on that day. Things like adventure, escaping the sprawl, probably temporarily escaping girl problems (lol) and hoping to take a photo of something cool. To bask in the most scenic park in the world. To just exist and be happy.
I was out hiking alone, too. Bear spray in one hand, camera in the other. He just had bad luck, and I did not. His trail was a bad one on that day and mine was not. Just bad luck. Just a flip of the coin. No one’s fault.
After hearing the news, I cut my Glacier trip short and left the park. I just didn’t have the heart to stick around. On my way out, I encountered this spectacular moment…a bald eagle perching on a lone branch with a ridiculous alpine backdrop. And I thought that in the end, we all fly free like the great eagle. Regardless of how it ends for any of us.
