WY WY - Austin King, 22, Yellowstone National Park, Eagle Peak, 17 Sept 2024

[ch_13]

We know this from the timeline:

9/14: Dropped off by-boat at Terrace Point, Lake Yellowstone, by Trekking Adventure (3rd party, not the standard NPS Backcountry Boat shuttle)

9/16: Encountered a Ranger at the Howell Fork Patrol cabin, and the statement was made by NPS that this was "Not on his planned route"

9/17: 19:00+ at Eagle Peak Summit: Makes some cell phone calls, one to his Mom, and leaves one person a VM. Reports bad weather at Summit.

9/20: Fails to show-up for boat pick-up (again via Trekking Adventures, is reported missing)

Based on some of the details it's very likely that AK's backcountry permit either changed or was not updated from his initial plan: to start from outside the park via the Eagle Creek Trailhead (Eagle Creek campground). There was confusion around his Truck not being at the Trailhead, so this really points to the Backcountry Permit not being correct vs his actual route. Since AK was able to secure the boat shuttle through Trekking Adventure, he started on 9/14 at Terrace Point shuttle drop-off on south Yellowstone Lake. We do not know the specifics of the backcountry permit nor reservations for other backcountry sites on the entry/exit.

Right, but I'm thinking of a scenario where he goes off-trail or in the wrong direction at some point on the 16th.

For example, say he takes the spur to see the Howell Fork cabin, but when he returns to the Mountain Creek Trail he turns the wrong way and walks south instead of north. Maybe that's unlikely as he should have realized that he was descending in elevation rather than climbing, but i just can't figure out why it would take him until 7:30 pm on the 17th to get to the summit of Eagle Peak.

 

[Bunny01]

It would be good to know more about the state of the "camp and personal belongings". Was it a case of he left his camp to just go poo in a hole? Or was he off on a day hike? Surely they have an idea based on what they found there. Super concerning if his camp still had the things he'd need for shelter and survival, i.e sleeping bag etc.

I agree. Apparently he worked as a concessioner for the park. I research a few things and many people within the area are outraged because of the influx of tourists coming to the park and how they had put in many accommodations for these tourists and have affected and ruined my natural structures with in the park. Could be someone targeted Austin’s king and maybe abducted him. Not much clear evidence however just a theroy

 

[mickey2942]

I agree. Apparently he worked as a concessioner for the park. I research a few things and many people within the area are outraged because of the influx of tourists coming to the park and how they had put in many accommodations for these tourists and have affected and ruined my natural structures with in the park. Could be someone targeted Austin’s king and maybe abducted him. Not much clear evidence however just a theroy

I doubt that. Tons of college kids have worked in the park for decades.

 

[Bunny01]

I doubt that. Tons of college kids have worked in the park for decades.

True

 

[justtrish]

We know this from the timeline:

9/14: Dropped off by-boat at Terrace Point, Lake Yellowstone, by Trekking Adventure (3rd party, not the standard NPS Backcountry Boat shuttle)

9/16: Encountered a Ranger at the Howell Fork Patrol cabin, and the statement was made by NPS that this was "Not on his planned route"

9/17: 19:00+ at Eagle Peak Summit: Makes some cell phone calls, one to his Mom, and leaves one person a VM. Reports bad weather at Summit.

9/20: Fails to show-up for boat pick-up (again via Trekking Adventures, is reported missing)

Based on some of the details it's very likely that AK's backcountry permit either changed or was not updated from his initial plan: to start from outside the park via the Eagle Creek Trailhead (Eagle Creek campground). There was confusion around his Truck not being at the Trailhead, so this really points to the Backcountry Permit not being correct vs his actual route. Since AK was able to secure the boat shuttle through Trekking Adventure, he started on 9/14 at Terrace Point shuttle drop-off on south Yellowstone Lake. We do not know the specifics of the backcountry permit nor reservations for other backcountry sites on the entry/exit.

After looking at this itinerary I wonder if he made it back down to his camp from the peak and slept that night of the 17th and woke up the 18th and decided to do a day hike in the area. Maybe he got lost doing that? I was sorta assuming that he fell from the top or went the wrong way from the peak due to the poor weather and the fact it was dark as he was descending.. but if he had that much time before he had to meet up with the boat, then maybe he had a plan for a day hike the day of the 18th.. then park up and hike a ways later that day, hike all day the 19th and be back to meet the boat the 20th.

 

[Lish311]

Not to place any doubt on the SAR team and their clearly determined efforts....but I was reading again about Julian Sands and about another missing hiker Geraldine Largay...

SAR teams looks for them for weeks but missed their location by 600 feet in Julian's case (one search team went from the top of the mountain and the other went from the bottom but they were running out of daylight and so they skipped the middle portion where he was later found) and search dogs previously came within about 100 yards of where Geraldine was found but still missed her. Accordingly to her diary entries and failed text messages she was alive for about 1 month after getting lost. She went away from her camp to go the bathroom and got lost for at least 2 days after and her remains were found years later.

I really hope the YNP and the SAR team will encourage anyone going to the area to search for Austin or maybe even give some incentives, as the case of Julian and Geraldine show that Austin could he narrowly missed by even the most experienced SAR team.

The best thing is to keep as many people out there looking for as long as possible. Geraldine was 66 years old and she still survived for up to 1 month. He's young and fit enough that he could still be alive for a quite a long time even through the worst conditions and even despite a possible injury. 2 weeks is too short to stop actively searching for such a young person with a lot of potential to survive.

Sources:

Julian Sands - missed by 600 feet by SAR ground teams

Boots. Bones. An ID with a familiar face. Hikers who found Julian Sands tell their story

The hikers who found actor Julian Sands' remains in a remote canyon on Mt. Baldy in June are haunted by what was missing from his safety gear.

www.latimes.com

Geraldine Largay - missed by 100 yards by SAR search dog

Hiker who went missing on Appalachian trail survived 26 days before dying

A journal found with the remains of 66-year-old Geraldine Largay show that she tried in vain to send SOS messages but finally accepted she would die

www.google.com

 

[RedHaus]

That "Not on his planned route" comment is confusing.

RSBM
WELCOME TO WEBSLEUTHS, @Eridachtlin!

I posted a possible explanation for that confusing reporting just up thread in post #267, bottom half, starting at "ETA".

 

[ItalyReader]

What if he summited late because he wanted to sleep in his sleeping bag at a high elevation shortly after summiting?
Would explain missing sleeping bag and late summit.
Then as someone suggested maybe he got disoriented the next day.

 

[mickey2942]

It is getting cold to search higher elevations now, bears are actively seeking food, and the weather is getting too iffy now. Combined with the fact that it gets dark now by 6:30 here...

I just checked YNP weather, oddly, it is unreasonably warm, and windy. But this time of year, weather can change in hours...from 60 to 0 with a blizzard, happens all the time in October.

 

[ch_13]

I really hope the YNP and the SAR team will encourage anyone going to the area to search for Austin or maybe even give some incentives, as the case of Julian and Geraldine show that Austin could he narrowly missed by even the most experienced SAR team.

rsbm.

I would be extremely wary of this. The last thing anyone needs is for an amateur hiker to get lost or injure themselves. I can't emphasize enough how rugged and isolated the terrain is.

 

[Eridachtlin]

rsbm.

I would be extremely wary of this. The last thing anyone needs is for an amateur hiker to get lost or injure themselves. I can't emphasize enough how rugged and isolated the terrain is.

This place is super remote. People don't understand how few people there are in the Yellowstone backcountry. The parking lot at Old Faithful can be absolutely jam packed, but get very few miles from a trailhead and you may see no one. The week before Austin's trip, I did not see anyone for three days, and that was in a part of the park not nearly as remote as the south east corner.

The number of day hikers will be about zero. From the park side it is thirty miles to get to the Upper Howell campsite from a trailhead. You cannot stay the night without a backcountry permit. From the east, outside the park, it is still seventeen miles to the site. No one will be in the area on a day hike looking around.

 

[Live_and_Learn]

rsbm.

I would be extremely wary of this. The last thing anyone needs is for an amateur hiker to get lost or injure themselves. I can't emphasize enough how rugged and isolated the terrain is.

Honest question: Why is anyone allowed to hike alone in such dangerous conditions?

 

[mickey2942]

Honest question: Why is anyone allowed to hike alone in such dangerous conditions?

Good question. I think that people are allowed to hike where they want alone. They can recommend that people don't hike alone, but they can't enforce it, if people choose to go hiking solo.

Backcountry Conditions - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[Lish311]

rsbm.

I would be extremely wary of this. The last thing anyone needs is for an amateur hiker to get lost or injure themselves. I can't emphasize enough how rugged and isolated the terrain is.

@ch_13 Very true and completely agree. I was thinking just that if anyone happens to be hiking this area in the next period the YNP should encourage them to be on an active lookout. The hikers who found Julian Sands stated that they had been tracking and following the news of his disappearance, knew the last location of his cell phone pings and therefore the likely places he could be found and were anticipating to find signs of him in that area.

 

[Lish311]

Honest question: Why is anyone allowed to hike alone in such dangerous conditions?

Agree. This is why they should require any solo hikers to take an emergency locator with them at the very least.

 

[Lish311]

This place is super remote. People don't understand how few people there are in the Yellowstone backcountry. The parking lot at Old Faithful can be absolutely jam packed, but get very few miles from a trailhead and you may see no one. The week before Austin's trip, I did not see anyone for three days, and that was in a part of the park not nearly as remote as the south east corner.

The number of day hikers will be about zero. From the park side it is thirty miles to get to the Upper Howell campsite from a trailhead. You cannot stay the night without a backcountry permit. From the east, outside the park, it is still seventeen miles to the site. No one will be in the area on a day hike looking around.

@Eridachtlin you are totally right. And it completely put it into perspective and also how scary it must be to be out there virtually alone.

 

[ttcRider]

Agree. This is why they should require any solo hikers to take an emergency locator with them at the very least.

Or make them responsible for the cost of rescue/search. MOO

 

[Tower]

I agree. Apparently he worked as a concessioner for the park. I research a few things and many people within the area are outraged because of the influx of tourists coming to the park and how they had put in many accommodations for these tourists and have affected and ruined my natural structures with in the park. Could be someone targeted Austin’s king and maybe abducted him. Not much clear evidence however just a theroy

The main thing really opposing your theory is how remote the area is where he was last known to be (where he had phone conversations with his family). There are so many deadly non-human elements out there and very few people. You have to hike in for many miles to even get there. Jmo

 

[Tower]

SAR knows exactly how long he could be expected to survive based on the weather, water sources and what he had with him. Geraldine was lost in good weather, with all of her backpacking gear: tent, clothing, food for weeks, stove, fuel, water.

The limited information we have on Austin implies he is without vital gear and the weather in his area is not mild. SAR really cannot be questioned here. As much as I hate to think about it, I think they searched much longer than was realistic for survival, but I’m very glad they err on the side of hope.

The weather is turning and there are very, very few people in the backcountry this time of year (or in his area, few at all), as others have said. I can barely type this because it’s devastating to me, but snowfall soon may blanket Austin until spring. I hope I’m wrong.

My experience/my opinion

 

[Tomgetty]

SAR knows exactly how long he could be expected to survive based on the weather, water sources and what he had with him. Geraldine was lost in good weather, with all of her backpacking gear: tent, clothing, food for weeks, stove, fuel, water.

The limited information we have on Austin implies he is without vital gear and the weather in his area is not mild. SAR really cannot be questioned here. As much as I hate to think about it, I think they searched much longer than was realistic for survival, but I’m very glad they err on the side of hope.

The weather is turning and there are very, very few people in the backcountry this time of year (or in his area, few at all), as others have said. I can barely type this because it’s devastating to me, but snowfall soon may blanket Austin until spring. I hope I’m wrong.

My experience/my opinion

When I looked at the YNP Backcountry reservations in Thorofare/Two Oceans area, there are 0 reservations in October. It's done for the season.

There may still be a Ranger posted at Howell Fork Patrol cabin for 2-3 weeks, weather permitting, to enforce Hunting and Antler collection regulations with-in that southeast park boundary. If so they will most likely walk Mountain Creek trail daily to look for any further signs of AK, but doubtful off-trail.