Search teams in Yellowstone National Park are on the lookout for an employee who has been unaccounted for since he did not return from a solo hiking trip last week in a secluded area.

Austin King, 22, last contacted anyone on Tuesday, September 17, while at the top of Eagle Peak, which is known as the highest spot in the Wyoming park, according to a notice from the National Park Service. King was expected back on Friday to meet for a boat pickup near the southeast shore of Yellowstone Lake but failed to show up, as reported by the park service.

The search and rescue operations commenced the next Saturday morning and included both aerial surveys and ground searches. Teams found King’s camping equipment and personal belongings on Saturday evening, leading to an expanded search operation on Sunday, which involved 20 ground searchers, two helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and a search dog team, as per the park service’s statement.

As of Tuesday, King has not yet been located, and park officials are seeking information from other hikers who might have seen him.

Hiker Reaches Eagle Peak Before Disappearance

Austin King, who works in concessions at Yellowstone, was taken by boat to Yellowstone Lake on Saturday, September 14, to begin a week-long trek to ascend Eagle Peak.

This remote mountain, located six miles from the eastern shores of the lake, stands at 11,372 feet high, making it Yellowstone National Park’s tallest peak.

Two days into his hike, King interacted with a park ranger at Howell Creek cabin in the backcountry, an area that was not part of his initial hiking plan. He mentioned he intended to spend the night camping there before attempting to reach Eagle Peak on Tuesday, as confirmed by the park service.

When he last communicated, he was at the summit of Eagle Peak, where he reported experiencing fog, rain, sleet, hail, and windy conditions, according to park officials.

Rescue teams are focusing their search efforts around Eagle Peak and the 7.2-mile trailhead. Additionally, teams from Grand Teton National Park and other areas have expanded their searches into regions like the Shoshone National Forest.

National Park Service Distributes King’s Photos

The National Park Service is distributing a missing person poster for King, featuring identifying details and two images of the hiker, one taken on the day he was dropped off for his journey.

As described in the flyer, King stands about six feet tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He has brown hair, hazel eyes, and was likely wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt, and gray pants when he went missing.

The park service urges anyone who has traveled around Eagle Peak since September 14 to report any encounters with King.

If anyone has information about his location, please contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center at 307-344-2643.

Eric Lagatta reports on breaking and trending news for YSL News.