Dad of Missing Yellowstone Worker Shares Eerie Note Son Left on Mountain

As the search for missing Yellowstone National Park employee Austin King continues, a personal note left by the 22-year-old has brought a glimpse into his final days.

Austin King’s Note from Eagle Peak

Austin, a concession worker, went missing during a 7-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak. His father, Brian King-Henke, shared the note found in a registry at the top of the peak, offering insight into the harsh conditions Austin faced before his disappearance on September 17. In the note, Austin detailed the extreme weather he encountered: “I can’t feel my fingers and my glasses are so fogged from the ruthless weather of the mountains. I endured rain, sleet, hail, and the most wind I have ever felt.” He reflected on the challenge of the ascent, acknowledging his struggle while marveling at the beauty of nature. Despite the harsh circumstances, Austin’s words ended on a hopeful note: “Life is beautiful, get out and LIVE IT!”

The Search Efforts So Far

Austin was last heard from on September 17, after calling friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak. The journey had proven treacherous, as he described facing fog, rain, sleet, and intense wind conditions. When he failed to show up for his scheduled boat pickup on September 20, a search mission was launched by Yellowstone National Park officials. Over 100 personnel, including helicopters, drones, search dogs, and ground teams, scoured over 3,225 miles of rugged terrain between elevations of 8,400 and 11,350 feet. Despite the extensive search, no definitive clues have been found regarding Austin’s whereabouts. On October 2, after 11 days of searching, officials made the difficult decision to transition the operation from rescue to recovery.

Family’s Ongoing Commitment

Despite the park scaling back its official efforts, Austin’s family, led by his father Brian King-Henke, has continued the search on their own. They have raised nearly $16,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to support independent search efforts. In a recent update, King-Henke shared that they would be sending out a new team, hopeful to find Austin before weather conditions deteriorate later in the week.

“The outpouring of support has been overwhelming,” King-Henke wrote, expressing gratitude for the kindness and generosity of those contributing to the search. While the situation remains difficult, the family remains steadfast in their commitment to bringing Austin home, even as time passes and conditions become more challenging.

Amid unimaginable uncertainty, Brian King-Henke’s words echo the deep resolve of a father unwilling to give up hope. “I can’t even find the words to explain what we’re going through,” he said, expressing both the emotional toll and his determination to keep the search alive.