Hugh Glass – The Man Who Refused to Die

The Relentless Frontier

In today's blog, we’re taking a trip back to the early 19th century, deep into the rugged American frontier. It was a time of unforgiving wilderness, where danger lurked behind every tree, and survival meant confronting nature at its most brutal.

We’ll talk about one of the most incredible survival stories you’ve ever heard—the story of Hugh Glass, a fur trapper and frontiersman who survived a vicious grizzly bear attack and then crawled over 200 miles across wild terrain to safety. Glass’s story has become the stuff of legend, immortalized in books and movies, but the real man behind the myth was even tougher than Hollywood could ever imagine.

So, who was Hugh Glass? And what made him one of the toughest survivors in history? Let’s get into it.

Man of the Frontier

Before we dive into Hugh Glass’s harrowing survival, let’s talk a bit about who he was. Born in Pennsylvania around 1783, Glass lived in a time when the American frontier was expanding westward. The lands beyond the Appalachian Mountains were wild, largely uncharted, and full of danger. And men like Hugh Glass—hunters, trappers, and explorers—were drawn to this rugged life.

Not much is known about Glass’s early years, but we do know that by the 1820s, he had joined up with the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. Fur trapping was one of the most lucrative industries of the time, but it was also incredibly dangerous. Trappers had to contend with the harsh elements, hostile wildlife, and, in some cases, the threat of attack from Native American tribes who viewed them as trespassers on their lands.

By 1823, Glass had earned a reputation as a skilled trapper and frontiersman. He had already survived multiple near-death experiences, including an alleged capture by pirates in the Gulf of Mexico and being held captive by the Pawnee tribe, who eventually let him go. So, by the time he signed on with an expedition led by General William Henry Ashley to explore the upper Missouri River, he was no stranger to danger.

But nothing could have prepared Hugh Glass for what was about to happen on that fateful day in 1823.

The Bear Attack

In August of 1823, Glass and the other trappers were making their way through what is now South Dakota, near the banks of the Grand River. The land was rough, and they were constantly on the lookout for signs of danger—whether it was hostile tribes or the wildlife that roamed the area.

One morning, while scouting ahead of the group, Glass stumbled upon a grizzly bear and her two cubs. Now, we know that grizzly bears are fiercely protective of their young, and this mother bear was no exception. Before Glass could react, the massive bear charged at him with terrifying speed.

The bear attacked with a ferocity that would have killed most men instantly. Glass was mauled, slashed by the bear’s powerful claws, and bitten multiple times. But in an astonishing display of willpower, Glass managed to stab the bear repeatedly with his knife until, eventually, both man and beast collapsed, covered in blood.

The other men in Glass’s party found him near death, his body broken and torn apart by the bear. His scalp was partially torn off, his leg was mangled, and he had deep gashes across his back. It seemed like a miracle that he was even alive.

But survival was far from guaranteed.

Left for Dead

After the attack, Glass was in such bad shape that his fellow trappers didn’t believe he’d make it through the night. They carried him as far as they could, but the terrain was difficult, and his injuries were so severe that they couldn’t keep going with him in tow. The expedition was still deep in hostile territory, and moving too slowly could spell disaster for everyone.

Realizing that Glass’s condition was hopeless, General Ashley made a tough decision. He offered a reward to anyone willing to stay behind with Glass until he died, so that he could receive a proper burial. Two men—John Fitzgerald and Jim Bridger—volunteered to stay, but after a few days, they grew impatient. Glass still wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t getting better either.

Fearing for their own safety and convinced that Glass wouldn’t survive much longer, Fitzgerald and Bridger made a decision that would haunt them later. They took Glass’s rifle, knife, and other supplies and left him behind—alone, unarmed, and gravely injured in the middle of the wilderness.

When Hugh Glass finally came to, he found himself abandoned, defenseless, and with no hope of rescue. But here’s where the legend of Hugh Glass really begins—because against all odds, he refused to die.

Crawling to Safety

Hugh Glass was badly injured—his leg was broken, his wounds were infected, and he could barely move. But instead of giving up, Glass did something remarkable. He started crawling.

Glass knew that the nearest settlement was Fort Kiowa, over 200 miles away. He couldn’t walk, so he dragged himself along the ground, using his arms to pull his body forward inch by inch. His journey through the wilderness would take him across some of the most dangerous terrain in North America, through forests, rivers, and plains teeming with wolves, bears, and other threats.

He scavenged for food, eating wild berries, roots, and whatever small animals he could catch. At one point, Glass encountered a pack of wolves feasting on a buffalo carcass. He waited until they had eaten their fill and then dragged himself over to the remains, eating whatever meat was left to keep himself alive.

But the physical pain wasn’t the only challenge. Glass had to fight off despair. He had been left for dead by his companions, stripped of his weapons, and abandoned in one of the most remote places on Earth. Yet, through sheer determination, he continued on.

After six gruelling weeks of crawling, Glass eventually reached the Cheyenne River. There, he built a crude raft and floated downstream until he was finally discovered by a group of friendly Native Americans, who helped him the rest of the way to Fort Kiowa.

Incredibly, against all odds, Hugh Glass had survived.

A Man's Revenge?

When Glass finally arrived at Fort Kiowa, his body was weak, but his mind was sharp—and he had one thing on his mind: revenge. He knew that Fitzgerald and Bridger had abandoned him, and he wouldn’t let them get away with it.

Once he had recovered enough strength, Glass set out to track them down. His first target was Jim Bridger, who was just a teenager at the time and, according to some accounts, had been pressured by Fitzgerald into leaving Glass behind. When Glass confronted Bridger, he was still filled with anger—but he saw that Bridger was genuinely remorseful. In the end, Glass forgave him.

Next, Glass went after John Fitzgerald, who had taken his prized rifle. Fitzgerald, however, had joined the army, and Glass knew that killing a soldier would bring its own set of consequences. So instead of revenge, Glass demanded his rifle back. Fitzgerald, perhaps sensing Glass’s fury, complied, and Glass walked away without taking further action.

What’s remarkable about this part of the story is that despite everything, Hugh Glass chose not to kill either man. He had been left for dead in the wilderness, but instead of letting his desire for vengeance consume him, he chose to move on with his life.

The Legend of Hugh Glass

Hugh Glass’s story is one of the most astonishing tales of survival ever recorded. He faced almost unimaginable odds—surviving a vicious bear attack, being abandoned in the wilderness, and then crawling over 200 miles to safety. His ability to endure physical pain, hunger, and extreme isolation is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

What makes Hugh Glass’s story even more powerful is that it didn’t end in revenge. After everything he went through, he chose forgiveness over violence. It’s a lesson in resilience, not just of the body, but of the mind and heart.

Glass continued to work as a trapper and frontiersman for years after his ordeal, and his story has become a part of American folklore. He’s been portrayed in movies and books, including the 2015 film The Revenant, which was loosely based on his life. But the real Hugh Glass didn’t need Hollywood to make him a legend—his story speaks for itself.

I hope you found Hugh Glass’s incredible journey as inspiring as I did. Until next time, remember: in the face of impossible odds, the will to survive can be stronger than anything else.