The search intensifies for Austin King, a 22-year-old Yellowstone National Park employee missing for over a week, as rescuers employ every tool available.
At a Glance
- Austin King, 22, a Yellowstone employee, has been missing for over a week.
- King last communicated from the summit of Eagle Peak on Sept. 17, 2024.
- Search efforts include 20+ ground searchers, helicopters, drones, and a canine team.
- The public is urged to report any information to the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center.
The Disappearance of Austin King
Austin King, a 22-year-old concession worker at Yellowstone National Park, has been missing since Sept. 17, 2024. King last contacted a family member from the top of Eagle Peak, reporting harsh weather conditions. Despite an extensive search operation involving over 20 ground searchers, helicopters, drones, and a canine search team, King remains unaccounted for.
King was last seen near Howell Creek, where he spoke with a backcountry ranger on Sept. 16. He was expected to be picked up by boat near Yellowstone Lake but failed to show, prompting the search efforts. Descriptions state King is six feet tall, weighs 150-160 pounds, wears glasses, has tattoos, and was dressed in a black sweatshirt, gray pants, and a dark-colored backpack when last seen.
Austin King, 22, has been missing since he failed to return from a week-long solo excursion to summit Eagle Peak, the highest point in Yellowstone. https://t.co/4e6Y8jj9km
— The Star Press (@TheStarPress) September 24, 2024
Intensified Search Efforts
The search for King began on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Rescue teams discovered his camp in the upper Howell Creek area that evening but found no trace of King himself. The search area encompasses high-elevation, expansive, and hazardous regions around Eagle Peak, featuring snow accumulations and six-foot drifts. Favorable weather currently promises improved search conditions.
The search and rescue effort to locate King is now in its second week in Yellowstone National Park. When King last made contact with anyone, he had reached the top of Eagle Peak. He described fog, rain, sleet, hail, and windy conditions while on the summit, according to the park service.
King, from Minnesota, is described by family and friends as an experienced outdoorsman. His father, Brian King-Henke, launched a GoFundMe campaign to support search efforts, raising considerable funds to date. King’s grandfather updates concerned parties through social media, emphasizing the family’s hope for his safe return.
Austin King, 22, has been missing since he failed to return from a week-long solo excursion to summit Eagle Peak, the highest point in Yellowstone. https://t.co/GI80ad3rfN
— Corpus Christi Caller-Times (@callerdotcom) September 24, 2024
Community Involvement
The National Park Service has circulated a missing person flyer with King’s description and images across various platforms. Authorities ask anyone who has been in the backcountry near Eagle Peak since Sept. 14 to provide any information on King’s whereabouts to the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center at 307-244-2643.
Since Saturday, 85 emergency personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, and an unmanned aircraft have focused efforts on the area around Eagle Peak. The search will continue for the next several days, with conditions expected to improve according to favorable weather forecasts.
Rescue teams from Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Parks, and Wyoming’s Park and Teton counties are involved in the massive search operation. The public’s prayers and support are vital for the morale of the rescuers and King’s family, who are staying optimistic about Austin’s safe return.
Sources:
- Crews search for Minnesota man missing in Yellowstone National Park
- Search launched for Yellowstone worker missing for 6 days in remote part of park
- https://nypost.com/2024/09/24/us-news/yellowstone-worker-austin-king-vanishes-after-phone-call-from-mountain-peak/
