Yellowstone ship takes off from Fishing Bridge Helibase

The search for Austin King, a 22-year-old hiker who went missing last month in Yellowstone National Park, has now been scaled back to a recovery, according to a National Park Service press release. 

King, who worked as a concessionaire in the park, was reported missing after failing to show up for a planned boat pickup at Lake Yellowstone on September 20. He'd spent the previous 7 days backpacking solo in the park's southeast corner. King called his parents from the summit of Eagle Peak—the highest in the park at 11,372 feet— on September 17. It was the last anyone heard from him. King reported poor weather from the summit.

After 11 days of searching, Yellowstone National Park officials are now considering their efforts to locate King a recovery mission, rather than a rescue mission, with a scaling back of search personnel.

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.

Air and ground search efforts near Eagle Peak during Sept. 21-30, 2024 / NPS

King's tent, gear, and personal items were located the first day of the search near the Howell Creek area, but other than that, the search teams had little to go on. 

“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."