A search is still underway for 22-year-old Austin King, a hiker from Minnesota who went missing in Yellowstone National Park. King embarked on a seven-day solo backpacking trip to the summit of Eagle Peak, one of the park’s most remote and challenging areas. He was last heard from on September 17, 2024, when he made a call to his family from the summit, reporting that he had reached his destination safely. However, no further contact has been made, and he has not returned from his hike as scheduled.
Yellowstone National Park rangers launched a search and rescue operation on September 21 after King failed to meet his boat pickup at Terrace Point. The search has since intensified, with over 85 personnel, including two helicopters, search dogs, and an unmanned aircraft, scouring the hazardous terrain surrounding Eagle Peak.
The search efforts have been complicated by inclement weather, with snow and ice covering much of the high-elevation terrain. King’s family remains hopeful that he will be found, though the difficult conditions have raised concerns about his safety. Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center. As of the latest reports, search teams are focusing on the most treacherous areas near Eagle Peak, hoping to locate King and bring him back to safety.