Bear mauls solo hiker near popular trailhead in Alaska mountains, officials say

Brooke Baitinger, The Sacramento Bee on Jul 23, 2025

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A bear mauled a solo hiker near a popular trailhead in Alaska’s mountains, rescuers said.

It happened around 2:30 p.m. July 22 near the Basher Trail, about a 10-mile drive southeast from Anchorage, The Anchorage Fire Department said in posts on Facebook.

The hiker called 911 to report “they were mauled by a bear and needed help as soon as possible,” the department said in one of the posts.

Their injuries prevented them from making it out on their own, officials said.

The hiker wasn’t able to walk but stayed on the phone with rescuers as they tried to find her, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Ultimately, they found her with a drone and a rescue helicopter, Alaska’s News Source reported.

The bear ran off after the attack, and rescuers told hikers to avoid all trails near the Stuckagain Heights area and drivers to avoid the neighborhood entirely.

Photos and video showed rescuers from several agencies staging near the trailhead. The hiker was extracted in the rescue helicopter, taken to a hospital and the rescue operation was cleared by 5:30 p.m.

“Hikers in the Anchorage area are encouraged to file trip plans with friends or family prior to trekking off into the great outdoors,” the department said in the post. “Information regarding your planned route can be invaluable as we try to locate you in case of an emergency. To be extra prepared, leave a copy of your trip plan underneath your windshield wiper.”

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