Austin King, a 22-year-old park concession worker in Yellowstone National Park, went missing after a weeklong trip in the Eagle Peak area. He failed to check in as scheduled on Friday, prompting an extensive search effort involving more than 20 ground searchers, helicopter crews, drones, and canine teams. King had informed a ranger of his plans to climb Eagle Peak and described challenging weather conditions, including fog, rain, sleet, and hail. The last contact he had was on Tuesday when he reported the weather conditions on the summit. Rescuers found his encampment and personal items but have not located him.
King embarked on his trek on September 14 and was supposed to be picked up by a boat at Terrace Point on Yellowstone Lake. Despite cold temperatures in the park, the search for King has continued in the Yellowstone Lake area and around Eagle Peak, the park’s highest location. King is described as 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with hazel eyes, and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and grey pants. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center.
Search efforts have involved crews from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, as well as Park and Teton counties in Wyoming. The park service is focusing on popular sites in the park where King was last known to be, including Yellowstone Lake. The missing person case remains unresolved as authorities are trying to piece together King’s path after his last known sighting on Eagle Peak.
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