News Release
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Contact: Morgan Warthin, (307) 344-2015
- After 11 days of searching, Yellowstone National Park will scale back efforts to locate Austin King in the vicinity of Eagle Peak and transition from a rescue to recovery today, Oct. 2.
- To date, more than 100 personnel including two helicopters, search dog teams, ground teams with spotting scopes, trackers, and a drone have searched more than 3,225 miles by air and ground at elevations ranging from 11,350 feet to 8,400 feet. Unfortunately, they have not found any definitive clues as to King’s current whereabouts.
- View a map that shows the extensive air and ground search efforts to date.
- King, an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business authorized to operate in Yellowstone, failed to arrive for his boat pickup near Yellowstone Lake’s Southeast Arm on the afternoon of Sept. 20, after his planned 7-day solo backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak, the highest point in Yellowstone National Park.
- Limited search efforts will continue into the foreseeable future as conditions warrant.
- “Despite significant search efforts over the past week and a half, we have not been able to locate Austin,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly. “Although we will continue to hope for the best, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Austin’s family, friends and colleagues. I also want to thank the teams from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and Park and Teton counties, Wyoming, who have all worked tirelessly to find Austin in some of the most difficult and remote terrain in Yellowstone.”
- The park does not expect to provide further updates unless a notable change occurs.
Editor’s Note: Find photos and a map of the search efforts on our Flickr.
UPDATE: Active search and rescue in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park
Public's assistance requested
Date of release: September 27, 2024
- As the search and rescue for Austin King enters its seventh day, search crews continue to focus efforts in the vicinity of Eagle Peak in Yellowstone National Park.
- King, an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business authorized to operate in Yellowstone, was reported overdue to the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center when he failed to arrive for his boat pickup near Yellowstone Lake’s Southeast Arm on the afternoon of Sept. 20, after his planned 7-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak.
- 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. Eagle Peak, at 11,372 feet (3,466 m), is the highest point in Yellowstone National Park. Teams will continue to search from the peak to about 8,000 feet in various drainages and ridgetops surrounding the peak.
- On Thursday, Sept. 26, two helicopters, one belonging to Yellowstone National Park and the other to Teton County, Wyoming, searched extensively throughout the area.
- In addition, Yellowstone staff have followed up on cellular activity by King that occurred the evening of Sept. 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.
- The park will provide more information when it is available.
Editor’s Note: Find photos of the search and rescue efforts on our Flickr.
UPDATE: Active search and rescue in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park
Public's assistance requested
Date of release: September 24, 2024
- Yellowstone National Park, with assistance from Grand Teton National Park, Park County, Wyoming, and Teton County, Wyoming, continue to look for Austin King by foot and air in the vicinity of Eagle Peak in the park’s remote southeast corner.
- Since Saturday, Sept. 21, 85 personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, and an uncrewed aircraft have focused efforts on the high-elevation, expansive and hazardous area. See photos.
- Searchers report accumulations of snow and ice and 6-foot drifts on Eagle Peak.
- Teams will continue to search for the next several days as conditions continue to improve due to favorable weather forecasts.
- Yellowstone National Park asks for the public’s assistance in locating Austin King, a 22-year-old male last heard from on Tuesday, Sept. 17, when he called friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak.
- King’s identifying features include height 6’, weight 160, brown hair, hazel eyes, wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt and gray pants.
- The park will provide more information when it is available.
Editor’s Note: Find photos of the search and rescue efforts on our Flickr.
Active search and rescue in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park
Public's assistance requested
Date of release: September 22, 2024
- Yellowstone National Park requests the public’s assistance in locating Austin King, a 22-year-old male last heard from on Tuesday, Sept. 17, when he called friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak in the park’s remote southeast corner.
- King’s identifying features include height 6’, weight 160, brown hair, hazel eyes, wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt and gray pants.
- Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, Park County, WY, and Teton County, WY, search and rescue teams are actively looking for King in the vicinity of Eagle Peak, Eagle Pass Mountain Creek Trail and Eagle Creek Trailhead in Shoshone National Forest. See Yellowstone backcountry trails and campsites for details.
- King, a concession employee working in Yellowstone, was reported overdue to the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center when he failed to arrive for his boat pickup near Yellowstone Lake’s Southeast Arm on Friday afternoon, Sept. 20, after his planned 7-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak.
- While on the summit, King described fog, rain, sleet, hail, and windy conditions.
- A search and rescue effort began at first light Saturday morning, Sept. 21, that involved an aerial reconnaissance and ground search operations in the high mountain areas of Eagle Peak and surrounding areas including Yellowstone Lake. Rescuers discovered King’s camp and personal effects Saturday evening in the upper Howell Creek area.
- Today, more than 20 ground searchers, two helicopters, unmanned air systems, and a search dog team are focusing efforts near Eagle Peak.
- Anyone traveling in the backcountry near Eagle Peak since Sept.14 may have seen King.
- Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center at 307.344.2643.
- The park will provide more information when it is available.
Last updated: October 2, 2024