Editor's note: This updates the continued search-and-rescue mission, now in its seventh day, as well as the park's request for public assistance in the search.
A search-and-rescue (SAR) mission underway since the report of missing 22-year old Austin King, who failed to meet a scheduled boat pickup on Septmber 20th, is now in its seventh day of searching in the remote southeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park.
King, a concessions employee, set out for a seven-day trip to Eagle Peak and back. While he called friends and family from the mountain's summit on Tuesday (September 17), he hasn't been heard from since then. At 11,372 feet (3,466 m), Eagle Peak is the highest point in the national park.
King was reported overdue after he failed to meet a boat on the Southeast Arm of Yellowstone Lake for a ride back to Bridge Bay.
The SAR operation, involving teams from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and Park County and Teton County in Wyoming, was focused in the vicinity of Eagle Peak, the Eagle Pass Mountain Creek Trail, and the Eagle Creek Trailhead in Shoshone National Forest. On Thursday, September 26, two helicopters, one belonging to Yellowstone National Park and the other to Teton County, Wyoming, searched extensively throughout the area. To date, 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. Teams will continue to search from the peak to about 8,000 feet (2,438 m) in various drainages and ridgetops surrounding the peak.
In addition, Yellowstone staff have followed up on cellular activity by King that occurred the evening of September 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.
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.
King was described as standing 6 feet tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing glasses and might have been wearing a black sweatshirt and gray pants, a Sunday evening release from Yellowstone said.
When he talked to friends and family from the mountain's summit, King described rain, sleet, hail, foggy and windy conditions.
On Saturday, September 21, an aerial search along with ground teams was conducted in the area. Searchers found King's camp and personal effects Saturday evening in the upper Howell Creek area, the park release said.
Park officials are asking for information from anyone who might have been traveling near Eagle Peak since September 14 and might have encountered King. Information should be provided the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center at 307-344-2643.
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