UPDATE: Active search and rescue in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park - NPS

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News Release

UPDATE: Active search and rescue in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park

Public’s assistance requested

A missing person sign with images of a young man with long brown hair and glasses.

NPS

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News Release Date: September 24, 2024

Contact: Morgan Warthin, (307) 344-2015

  • Yellowstone National Park, with assistance from Grand Teton National Park, Park County, Wyoming, and Teton County, Wyoming, continue to look for Austin King by foot and air in the vicinity of Eagle Peak in the park’s remote southeast corner.
  • Since Saturday, Sept. 21, 85 personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, and an uncrewed aircraft have focused efforts on the high-elevation, expansive and hazardous area. See photos. 
  • Searchers report accumulations of snow and ice and 6-foot drifts on Eagle Peak.
  • View a map that shows the search efforts to date.
  • Teams will continue to search for the next several days as conditions continue to improve due to favorable weather forecasts.
  • Yellowstone National Park asks for the public’s assistance in locating Austin King, a 22-year-old male last heard from on Tuesday, Sept. 17, when he called friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak.
  • King’s identifying features include height 6’, weight 160, brown hair, hazel eyes, wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt and gray pants.  
  • The park will provide more information when it is available.

Editor’s Note: Find photos of the search and rescue efforts on our Flickr.

 

Active search and rescue in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park

Public's assistance requested

Date of release: September 22, 2024

  • Yellowstone National Park requests the public’s assistance in locating Austin King, a 22-year-old male last heard from on Tuesday, Sept. 17, when he called friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak in the park’s remote southeast corner.
  • King’s identifying features include height 6’, weight 160, brown hair, hazel eyes, wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt and gray pants.
  • Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, Park County, WY, and Teton County, WY, search and rescue teams are actively looking for King in the vicinity of Eagle Peak, Eagle Pass Mountain Creek Trail and Eagle Creek Trailhead in Shoshone National Forest. See Yellowstone backcountry trails and campsites for details.
  • King, a concession employee working in Yellowstone, was reported overdue to the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center when he failed to arrive for his boat pickup near Yellowstone Lake’s Southeast Arm on Friday afternoon, Sept. 20, after his planned 7-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak.
  • While on the summit, King described fog, rain, sleet, hail, and windy conditions.
  • A search and rescue effort began at first light Saturday morning, Sept. 21, that involved an aerial reconnaissance and ground search operations in the high mountain areas of Eagle Peak and surrounding areas including Yellowstone Lake. Rescuers discovered King’s camp and personal effects Saturday evening in the upper Howell Creek area.
  • Today, more than 20 ground searchers, two helicopters, unmanned air systems, and a search dog team are focusing efforts near Eagle Peak.
  • Anyone traveling in the backcountry near Eagle Peak since Sept.14 may have seen King.
  • Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center at 307.344.2643.
  • The park will provide more information when it is available.