Rescuers at Yellowstone National Park have been searching for 22-year-old concession worker Austin King, who went missing after failing to check in at the end of a personal trip. King was supposed to be picked up at Yellowstone Lake’s Southeast Arm on Friday after spending a week trekking around Eagle Peak. Despite efforts by more than 20 searchers on the ground and helicopter-based crews, drones, and a canine search team, King has not been found yet.
King spoke to a backcountry ranger on Sept. 16, stating his plans to climb Eagle Peak the next day. He later described challenging weather conditions on the summit including fog, rain, sleet, hail, and wind. The mountain rises 11,358 feet above sea level and is the highest point in Yellowstone National Park. The last contact from King was on Tuesday, and it’s unclear what happened between then and his missed check-in on Friday.
Search crews found King’s encampment and personal items in the upper Howell Creek area, but his 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup with Minnesota plates remains missing. Multiple agencies from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, as well as Park and Teton counties in Wyoming, are assisting in the search efforts focused on the Yellowstone Lake area and Eagle Peak. King embarked on his trek on Sept. 14 after being dropped off at Terrace Point on Yellowstone Lake.
Temperatures in the area have been cold, with highs struggling to reach 60 degrees. King is described as 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with hazel eyes, wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt, and gray pants. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center.
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