Monday, September 30, 2024

UPDATE: Search continues in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park

Roughly ten days ago search and rescue efforts were launched for a missing hiker in the vicinity of Eagle Peak in Yellowstone National Park. Austin King, an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business authorized to operate 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 the afternoon of Sept. 20, after his planned 7-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak.

According to a report from the Cowboy State Daily this past Friday, King's family has announced that the search has shifted from “rescue” to “recovery”. The park, however, was unwilling to confirm that report.

As of Friday, September 27th, 96 personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, ground teams with spotting scopes, and a drone have looked for King in this high-elevation, expansive and hazardous area. Eagle Peak, at 11,372 feet (3,466 m), is the highest point in Yellowstone National Park. Teams will continue to search from the peak to about 8,000 feet in various drainages and ridgetops surrounding the peak.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, two helicopters, one belonging to Yellowstone National Park and the other to Teton County, Wyoming, searched extensively throughout the area. In addition, Yellowstone staff have followed up on cellular activity by King that occurred the evening of Sept. 17 on Eagle Peak, the night King summited the peak. Staff are working with cellular forensics experts to attempt to learn more from this data.

As of Friday, Yellowstone continues to partner with Grand Teton National Park, Park County, Wyoming, and Teton County, Wyoming, to look for King. Multiple crews will continue searching for the next several days as conditions warrant. The park will provide more information when it is available.



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