Yellowstone National Park Seeks Help In Locating Missing 22-Year-Old Man

Yellowstone National Park has launched a large-scale search operation for a missing 22-year-old man, Austin King, who has not been heard from since Tuesday, September 17. King, an employee working within the park, embarked on a solo backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak in Yellowstone’s remote southeast region. Authorities are now asking the public for assistance in locating him. King was last in contact with friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak, where he described encountering harsh weather conditions.

Search Underway for Missing Yellowstone Employee Austin King

Austin King, a concession employee in Yellowstone, began his 7-day backcountry hike with plans to reach the summit of Eagle Peak. However, he failed to arrive at a boat pickup near Yellowstone Lake’s Southeast Arm on Friday, September 20, as scheduled. Concerned by his absence, friends and family reported him missing, and the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center immediately launched a search and rescue operation. King is described as being 6 feet tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes, and glasses. At the time of his last communication, he was wearing a black sweatshirt and gray pants. His last known location was atop Eagle Peak, a challenging area known for its difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.

King Last Heard from at Eagle Peak, Weather Conditions a Concern

In his final contact with friends and family, King mentioned experiencing severe weather, including fog, rain, sleet, hail, and strong winds. Given these conditions, search and rescue teams have been conducting an extensive search in the high-altitude regions of Eagle Peak and surrounding areas. On Saturday, September 21, an aerial reconnaissance operation was launched, alongside ground search efforts. Later that evening, rescuers discovered King’s campsite and personal belongings in the upper Howell Creek area, but there was no sign of King himself. The ongoing search has been supported by more than 20 ground personnel, two helicopters, unmanned aerial systems, and a team of search dogs. Rescuers are focusing their efforts near Eagle Peak, as well as on the surrounding Eagle Pass Mountain Creek Trail and Eagle Creek Trailhead in Shoshone National Forest.

Authorities Urge Public to Assist in Search Efforts

Authorities are now appealing to the public for assistance. Anyone who may have traveled through the backcountry near Eagle Peak between September 14 and September 20 is encouraged to report any possible sightings or information that could help locate King. Park officials are hopeful that someone may have encountered King during his hike or have valuable information about his whereabouts.

Individuals with information are urged to contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center at 307-344-2643. Yellowstone National Park continues to work closely with Grand Teton National Park, Park County, and Teton County search and rescue teams in their efforts to find King. Updates on the search will be provided as new information becomes available.