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

[outsidecreativ]

It's worth noting, the rescue teams currently out there, assembled by Brian King-Henke and John Lamb had to request donations if equipment - to me, this indicates they are not experienced SAR crews. It is understandable YNP did not grant the permit for Helicopter if the team couldn't validate their experience.

As a parent, I think I would try everything, too - but I think YNP is attempting to have some (figurative) guardrails in place to avoid another tragedy.

 

[Tower]

It's worth noting, the rescue teams currently out there, assembled by Brian King-Henke and John Lamb had to request donations if equipment - to me, this indicates they are not experienced SAR crews. It is understandable YNP did not grant the permit for Helicopter if the team couldn't validate their experience.

As a parent, I think I would try everything, too - but I think YNP is attempting to have some (figurative) guardrails in place to avoid another tragedy.

I agree. SAR determines due to weather, food, fuel, water, etc., when a rescue turns to recovery. They cannot allow backcountry access that could put their own SAR personnel or anyone else in danger for a recovery, which is what they’ve stated in these articles.

It’s so very sad and I say again, as a parent, I’d want to be out there every second finding my child, but snow is falling today and this afternoon’s high temperature on the peak is 10 degrees F.

Eagle Peak (Wyoming) Weather Forecast (3462m)

Eagle Peak (Wyoming), Beartooth Mountains, Rocky Mountains (USA), United States Mountain weather forecast for 3462m. Detailed 6 day mountain weather forecast for climbers and mountaineers.

www.mountain-forecast.com

 

[acutename]

Was this area covered by any of the aerial images?

ETA answering my own question- found at least two images that seem to be of this area, according to their captions.
First is ground crews climbing southwest ridge of Eagle Peak and directly below is west face of Eagle Peak

https://flic.kr/p/2qivcW3

https://flic.kr/p/2qivdAV

the scale of this mountain and all the little crevasses are really daunting

 

[acutename]

May would be too early. This article indicates July.

Search For Missing Hiker Stopped After U.S. Forest Service Denies Helicopter Drop

U.S. Forest Service authorities declined to authorize a helicopter drop of searchers into a remote region to look for missing hiker Austin King, who…

cowboystatedaily.com

If the weather warms up again the snow may not stay on the high peaks- wind might blow it off but as we go into fall- shorter days and less time for anyone to function up there, IMO

 

[touch]

It's worth noting, the rescue teams currently out there, assembled by Brian King-Henke and John Lamb had to request donations if equipment - to me, this indicates they are not experienced SAR crews. It is understandable YNP did not grant the permit for Helicopter if the team couldn't validate their experience.

I don't think it's related to the experience of the search crew, it's the details of the helicopter and pilot which caused YNP to block the plan. It seems YNP are allowing the same crew to use the Eagle Creek Campground and to hike in to the search area on foot. Info is from facebook so I dont have an explicit source for that but this link implies that is true by having a caption on a photo which says "Brian King-Henke facing the creek the searchers have to cross to trek the 14 miles into their search area around Eagle Peak. (Courtesy John Lamb)"

 

[mickey2942]

This should serve as information to hikers, even on a day hike. Wear bright yellow or orange top. Something so SAR can find you if you need them. It may save your life.

It would be so much easier to look at the pictures, and be looking for a bright color.

 

[Eridachtlin]

Search For Missing Hiker Stopped After U.S. Forest Service Denies Helicopter Drop

U.S. Forest Service authorities declined to authorize a helicopter drop of searchers into a remote region to look for missing hiker Austin King, who…

cowboystatedaily.com

An interesting thing in the article is the cell phone pings from the SW ridge. It may give some insight into the route Austin used going up and down.

There is only cell service on the summit, the upper part of the NE ridge where Cody is in sight, and the SW ridge extending down to the drop off to the south where Yellowstone Lake is in sight.

As best I can tell, the standard route connects with the upper part of the NE ridge. We can assume the pings are relevant to the searchers because they occurred after he summited. This tells us his route up was very different from the standard route. It was not just climbing up through the big cliff band using a location other than the keyhole then regaining the standard route to the NE ridge. We can guess this because when facing the decision on which way to descend, Austin decided not to even start the standard route down because it was unfamiliar to him. He chose to go down the SW ridge, which I think is a good indication of the way he came up.

For the ascent he likely traversed west under the cliff band, probably missing the entrance to the keyhole, and then found a way to climb to the SW ridge. This matches his description of climbing a connecting peak (or what would have seemed like a peak) then walking to the summit. The most likely place to search is nooks and crannies of the east side of the SW ridge as it turns south and the fall line near the south end of the cliff band.

The searchers seem to think he might have abandoned his attempt to retract his ascent and headed west in an attempt to get to the lake. It seems a bit unlikely to me. With cold hands, dark, maybe the beginnings of hypothermia, he may have hoped it would be easier. But then if he was going to travel on terrain unknown to him, he might as well have tried to find his way down the standard route.

 

[RedHaus]

The most likely place to search is nooks and crannies of the east side of the SW ridge as it turns south and the fall line near the south end of the cliff band.

RSBM
Very good analysis, @Eridachtlin . But, if you're right, it adds more mystery, IMO, about AK's decision making on 9/17/2024.

 

[touch]

The most likely place to search is nooks and crannies of the east side of the SW ridge as it turns south and the fall line near the south end of the cliff band.

With this in mind, I had another look at the photos.
What do you all think of this on the image titled "Eagle Peak Search & Rescue: ground crews climbing southwest ridge of Eagle Peak"

 

[georgiajean]

An interesting thing in the article is the cell phone pings from the SW ridge. It may give some insight into the route Austin used going up and down.

There is only cell service on the summit, the upper part of the NE ridge where Cody is in sight, and the SW ridge extending down to the drop off to the south where Yellowstone Lake is in sight.

As best I can tell, the standard route connects with the upper part of the NE ridge. We can assume the pings are relevant to the searchers because they occurred after he summited. This tells us his route up was very different from the standard route. It was not just climbing up through the big cliff band using a location other than the keyhole then regaining the standard route to the NE ridge. We can guess this because when facing the decision on which way to descend, Austin decided not to even start the standard route down because it was unfamiliar to him. He chose to go down the SW ridge, which I think is a good indication of the way he came up.

For the ascent he likely traversed west under the cliff band, probably missing the entrance to the keyhole, and then found a way to climb to the SW ridge. This matches his description of climbing a connecting peak (or what would have seemed like a peak) then walking to the summit. The most likely place to search is nooks and crannies of the east side of the SW ridge as it turns south and the fall line near the south end of the cliff band.

The searchers seem to think he might have abandoned his attempt to retract his ascent and headed west in an attempt to get to the lake. It seems a bit unlikely to me. With cold hands, dark, maybe the beginnings of hypothermia, he may have hoped it would be easier. But then if he was going to travel on terrain unknown to him, he might as well have tried to find his way down the standard route.

The part I have wondered about is the note he wrote at the top, where he indicated he "“free soloed too many cliffs to get here" Source If he free climbed up, how could he consider doing the same on the way back? I can see how, with how difficult his route up was, he might consider going back a different way, albeit an unfamiliar way.

 

[Live_and_Learn]

With this in mind, I had another look at the photos.
What do you all think of this on the image titled "Eagle Peak Search & Rescue: ground crews climbing southwest ridge of Eagle Peak"

Did you share this with the search team?

 

[outsidecreativ]

I don't think it's related to the experience of the search crew, it's the details of the helicopter and pilot which caused YNP to block the plan. It seems YNP are allowing the same crew to use the Eagle Creek Campground and to hike in to the search area on foot. Info is from facebook so I dont have an explicit source for that but this link implies that is true by having a caption on a photo which says "Brian King-Henke facing the creek the searchers have to cross to trek the 14 miles into their search area around Eagle Peak. (Courtesy John Lamb)"

I think the apparent inexperince of the ground team may have brought some hesitation to YNP granting helicopter access to drop hikers. In addition to to the lack of proof of experience of the helicopter and pilot.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 16, 2024

Missing Yellowstone hiker’s dad continues ground search without park’s OK for helicopter • Idaho Capital Sun

The father of missing Yellowstone National Park hiker Austin King and volunteers are scouring the remote Eagle Peak area of Yellowstone.

idahocapitalsun.com

The park did not approve the request for the contracted helicopter because it was unable to verify if the helicopter pilot had sufficient experience flying and landing in mountainous terrain, Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a Tuesday statement.

“We deeply sympathize with Austin’s family and their desire to continue searching for him,” Sholly said in a statement, adding that safety is paramount. “At this time, the park has limited resources to respond to Eagle Peak if something were to go wrong. The park’s helicopter is gone and there are limited air support resources capable of conducting high mountain rescues.”

 

[RickshawFan]

RSBM
Hi @windrower! Looks like we have an "ED Reunion" going on. There may be others here. Not surprising given the similarities between these tragic cases. I sure hope AK's mystery does not extend for as long as ED's. And I too am still holding out hope for AK's safe return.

It was not me who recommended Ty Gagne's book on Kate Matrosova in NH. But at the time it prompted me to research her case and I finally just ordered the book! Perhaps @RickshawFan suggested that book on the ED thread?

Another awesome book was suggested on this thread that I just ordered as well: Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite, by Ghiglieri and Farabee: "Gripping account of all known mishaps in America's first protected land of scenic wonders."

Like you, I am amazed by how the human brain can play tricks with logic and reason in the face of severe risks to our wellbeing. To have no mountaineering experience and to summit Eagle Peak as the sun set (~7:30pm 9/17) with severe weather conditions (~37°F, fog, wind, sleet), IMO, AK must have been strongly motivated by something compelling.

I continue to pray for the best outcome for AK.

IMO.

Yes, it was I who recommended that book.

 

[RickshawFan]

I would not characterize this as sunset-watching at all. You cannot clamber up this peak. It’s a technical climb with a 31-mile roundtrip backpack and scheduled boat trip to access. He detailed his plans to friends for weeks and I believe he spent extensive time planning his trip.

The search and rescue has been thorough with 96 volunteers, drones, helicopters, lots of details earlier in these threads. The terrain is very challenging. I would guess based on trip reports I’ve read, he likely slipped into an area where he is very hard to spot, but not for lack of trying. I cannot emphasize how hard it is to find a person in this wilderness.

Trip report of one group’s summit:

Yellowstone Reports

www.yellowstonereports.com

My own experience and opinion

I agree this was likely a fall. From the note, with its report of sleet, the rocks would be icing over. And he was wearing a sweatshirt (cotton?) hoody when he left?
IMO a lot of the contractor staff are college-age, and may not have any exposure to the outdoors, except in very benign conditions. Folks underestimate the West IME. Yellowstone is very inhospitable.

 

[RickshawFan]

Yellowstone hiker still missing

JACKSON — Rangers and Search and Rescue crews still have not found Austin King, the hiker who last made contact with the outside world a week and a half ago

www.gillettenewsrecord.com

"JACKSON — Rangers and Search and Rescue crews still have not found Austin King, the hiker who last made contact with the outside world a week and a half ago on a remote peak in Yellowstone National Park."
...
"Greg Jackson, a former National Park Service ranger who retired in 2013 as deputy chief of national law enforcement, said there are a number of unknowns regarding King’s disappearance.

For example, King’s camp was found southeast of the peak. Why he left it is unclear.

“Under what circumstances would you leave your camp?” Jackson said. “Most people wouldn’t leave their survival supplies on purpose.”

IMO he left his camp to ultralight it up the summit.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Why are drones not allowed in the park?

 

[Eridachtlin]

Why are drones not allowed in the park?

One, it is a national park. I believe it is against federal law to operate a drone in any national park.

Two, 90% of Yellowstone is federally designated wilderness. There are accomodations for maintenance by authorities, but the regulations break down to:

• Motorized equipment Motor vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, OHVs, motorboats, chainsaws, carts, wagons, and drones are not allowed.
• Aircraft Landing aircraft, or dropping or picking up people, supplies, or material by aircraft is prohibited.
• Roads and structures Permanent or temporary roads, structures, or installations are not allowed.
• Commercial enterprises Commercial enterprises are not allowed.
• Competitive use Competitive use, such as foot races, water craft races, survival exercises, or war games, is prohibited.
  

 

[mickey2942]

Why are drones not allowed in the park?

Many people go to National Parks to unwind and enjoy nature. A buzzing drone overhead, would not be part of that experience.

 

[PrairieWind]

Many people go to National Parks to unwind and enjoy nature. A buzzing drone overhead, would not be part of that experience.

And you would see wrecked drones around Old Faithful etc. because someone always has to get that "ultimate" photo.