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

[ch_13]

Is this a misunderstanding/misprint? I cant see there would be any cell phone connectivity on Eagle Peak due to its remote location and rugged terrain likely to be very limited if nonexistent.

It's not uncommon to get cell service on a mountain peak, even one that is very remote.

For the same reason that at a top of a mountain you can see views that stretch for miles, you can also get a clear, unobstructed path between the cell tower and phone.

Of course, it depends on many factors, like weather, cell tower strength, etc but I've experienced this many times. No service on the hike up a mountain, but suddenly at the summit my phone starts buzzing and I begin receiving a bunch of emails / texts.

Edit - I just looked it up, and in ideal conditions, with no barriers, a cell tower can reach phones that are 45 miles away. More typically, towers only get 1-3 miles of coverage (or less in urban areas). But that's generally because we're not in direct line-of-sight and the signals have to pass through multiple obstructions as well as interference from other signals.

Cell Tower Range: How Far Do They Reach?

Wireless networks transmit voice and data signals over cell towers, using a range of radio frequencies, that can reach a customer’s cell phone far away.

dgtlinfra.com

 

[FoxxTraxx]

Exactly. And you aren't going to be able to contract a helicopter at that point with out money down. I worry they have been trying to coordinate a massive search that really isnt feasible. During the summer many resources (professional groups) are working fires and rescue. Participating in a recovery operation that can't pin down a date isn't going to draw many people. Round up what volunteers you can and go, keeping track of what is searched and when.

Agree that co-ordinating a large team for Austin's search is probably hampering their plans.

In my state (Colorado) there has been a sharp increase in rescue requests. Not any one reason. Weather is near normal. More requests could be true elsewhere too.

For reference I'll post a news link about rescuers in Colorado. It's informative and sheds some light on the issues arising.

Mackey is just one of hundreds of rescue calls the free, all-volunteer group responds to every year, but this year they're seeing even more calls than usual. In the last 8 days, the team has performed 22 rescues

CBS Colorado - As Colorado rescue teams see more calls, one man credits the team

 

[mickey2942]

Agreed. This really is more about "Boots on the Ground". A helicopter, and drone probably won't find much, there is no heat to find. And Austin wasn't wearing anything bright orange. He was wearing black and brown, based on the pictures. That will completely blend in with the ground there.

I wish this team the best of luck, but it really is "finding a needle in a haystack".

 

[LookingForClues]

My husband used to be involved in search and rescue. I learned may things that can increase your odds of surviving an unexpected situation in the backcountry, and your odds of being found once a SAR effort is launched. I'll never again wear clothing that blends with the wilderness. Bright colors increase your odds of being found, even if it's only to be brought home to your loved ones so they have some sense of closure and a chance to say one last goodbye.

 

[Jinkasaurus]

I recently listened to a podcast some on this thread might enjoy - I won't spoil the outcome but its about a man who went missing on a hike in the mountains of Utah. It provides a window into some of the elements involved in a case like this. Name of the podcast is Uinta Triangle - its by Dave Cawley, host of the Cold Podcast which covered the case of Susan Powell. Also an excellent podcast if you haven't listened to it.

 

[RedHaus]

King-Henke said the search will begin August 21,

According to King-Henke, the delay is due to some volunteers being sent to Texas to help flood victims.

UPDATE: Continued search delayed for Winona hiker who went missing in Yellowstone last fall

Brian King-Henke, the father of a Minnesota native who went missing in Yellowstone last fall, announced on July 6 that the search for his son, Austin King, will resume later this month.

www.kaaltv.com

Aug 5 updated

Actually, that is incorrect.

As I stated ^^, the phase 1 search was last week. The phase 2 search starts tomorrow at 7am MT. Here is AK's dad, 20 hours ago.

Help Bring Austin King Home | I would like to say Thank you to the John Francis Foundation and the search teams that were out this last week for all their dedication in searching f... | Facebook

I would like to say Thank you to the John Francis Foundation and the search teams that were out this last week for all their dedication in searching for Austin. I truly cannot say Thank you enough....

www.facebook.com

 

[FoxxTraxx]

The weather forecast at the main part of Yellowstone looks good for 6 days. Eagle Pk won't be exactly the same but should be OK

 

[mickey2942]

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

Looks a bit chilly.

 

[RedHaus]

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

Looks a bit chilly.

Ahh you beat me to it! You had posted the Eagle Peak-specific weather ^^.

I'll add it looks windy in the afternoons. And rain comes in starting Sunday night.

i am hoping for the best the next three days and that this group knows AK the best.

 

[mickey2942]

Yeah, Montana, Wyoming..there are weather predictions, and then, what actually happens. You never know.

I wish these people the best of luck. But they don't even know what side he went down. And after the winter, snow, ice, mud, runoff, I don't know.

 

[RedHaus]

Well, I am going to assume this 2nd group will pick up where the 1st group left off. And that the 1st group picked up from SAR's search last fall...

I suspect many of these searchers have studied arial mages taken by SAR last fall and last week??

I hope they focus on where AK may have sought shelter from the cold, driving wind and sleet, as light faded at the summit on 9/17/24 at ~7:30pm.

My suspicion is AK either found a small space for shelter and died of hypothermia overnight, or waa badly injured or died trying to do so.

I honestly don't think AK got far that night after making his 3÷ phone calls from the summit.

How I wish he'd called 911.

IMO.

 

[arielilane]

Actually, that is incorrect.

As I stated ^^, the phase 1 search was last week. The phase 2 search starts tomorrow at 7am MT. Here is AK's dad, 20 hours ago.

View attachment 609814

Help Bring Austin King Home | I would like to say Thank you to the John Francis Foundation and the search teams that were out this last week for all their dedication in searching f... | Facebook

I would like to say Thank you to the John Francis Foundation and the search teams that were out this last week for all their dedication in searching for Austin. I truly cannot say Thank you enough....

www.facebook.com

Thanks for correction to article. I dont use Facebook.

 

[RedHaus]

A brief video from Brian, AK's Dad, from camp 68D, posted 5 hours ago.

They are heading to west of Table Mtn. because search team #1 last week got some hits on scents up there... Could AK have made it that far??

Godspeed Brian and Team!

6K views · 131 reactions | Updates on Team Austin search. | Brian King-Henke

Updates on Team Austin search..

www.facebook.com

 

[ch_13]

Here's a map showing Eagle Peak and Table Mountain in relation to Yellowstone Lake. They're quite close to each other, but in the opposite direction than I would have expected Austin to go.

 

[RedHaus]

Here's a map showing Eagle Peak and Table Mountain in relation to Yellowstone Lake. They're quite close to each other, but in the opposite direction than I would have expected Austin to go.

View attachment 610087

Thanks for this satelite map.

Yes, it seems odd. But perhaps not so odd, given, a) some here and perhaps SAR (remember how heavily they arially searched west of Table Mtn. in the spaghetti diagram we shared here?) suspected AK could be there, and b) the new Intel ^ from an AK friend that AK had a 'plan B' route if he had to bail.

The related theory last fall was that AK may have been desperate to get to a lower altitude and warmer temperatures quickly to survive (it snowed overnight 9/17/24) and to get back to Yellowstone Lake via the most direct route possible, especially if he was injured or unwell.

Looks like from your map, "in theory", one could try to beeline it for the lake from the summit of Eagle Peak. Is it feasible?

IMO.

 

[ch_13]

Thanks for this satelite map.

Yes, it seems odd. But perhaps not so odd, given, a) some here and perhaps SAR (remember how heavily they arially searched west of Table Mtn. in the spaghetti diagram we shared here?) suspected AK could be there, and b) the new Intel ^ from an AK friend that AK had a 'plan B' route if he had to bail.

The related theory last fall was that AK may have been desperate to get to a lower altitude and warmer temperatures quickly to survive (it snowed overnight 9/17/24) and to get back to Yellowstone Lake via the most direct route possible, especially if he was injured or unwell.

Looks like from your map, "in theory", one could try to beeline it for the lake from the summit of Eagle Peak. Is it feasible?

IMO.

Interesting theory, and certainly a possibility. But walking a non-standard route would be much more difficult and tiring then just following the trail down.

Unless he was just disoriented. I know from reading other trail journals that the return via the keyhole can be very difficult to find unless you've marked your path or used a GPS app. And Austin did not ascend the regular way. He may not have known how to get back down from the peak and taken an alternate path instead.

 

[RedHaus]

Since there is an active search for AK going on right now in Yellowstone, I thought I'd repeat my post #427, p.22 from October, 2024.
-----‐------------------------------------------

NPS/SARs search map as of 10/2/[2024]. Since it's so important to AK's case, I'm reposting. Black lines = drones. Source

 

[Gophers_FTW]

Remarkably similar details in the cases of Austin and Grant Gardner, the other man mentioned in this story. In addition to both being from Minnesota.

"Officials in Wyoming have called off their search for a mountain climber from Minnesota who has been missing for the past three weeks, while a private search group in the state has renewed the search for a Winona native nearly a year after he disappeared."

[Note - I don't think Grant was a 'mountain climber' who used ropes and climbing gear, etc, but he had hiked to the summit of a mountain if that makes sense. Hiker or adventurer might be better terms.]

MSN

I haven't seen any search maps for Grant's case like those in previous post. I wonder if any are available?

WY Thread 'Grant Gardner 38, Missing while hiking to Cloud Peak in WY. Last heard from 7/29/2025'

Aug 5, 2025

Search underway for Minnesota hiker missing in Wyoming wilderness​

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office in north-central Wyoming said Grant Gardner texted his wife on the night of July 29, to let her know he reached the top of Cloud Peak.

Gardner “indicated the climb was more taxing than he expected and he was tired,” the sheriff’s office said, and he was planning to head to a lower elevation for the night. He hasn’t been heard from since.....

“In addition to high altitude and terrain challenges, difficult weather patterns including winds, thunder and lightning storms...

• FoxxTraxx
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Missing Persons Discussion

• 
• 

 

[iamshadow21]

Remarkably similar details in the cases of Austin and Grant Gardner, the other man mentioned in this story. In addition to both being from Minnesota.

"Officials in Wyoming have called off their search for a mountain climber from Minnesota who has been missing for the past three weeks, while a private search group in the state has renewed the search for a Winona native nearly a year after he disappeared."

[Note - I don't think Grant was a 'mountain climber' who used ropes and climbing gear, etc, but he had hiked to the summit of a mountain if that makes sense. Hiker or adventurer might be better terms.]

MSN

I haven't seen any search maps for Grant's case like those in previous post. I wonder if any are available?

WY Thread 'Grant Gardner 38, Missing while hiking to Cloud Peak in WY. Last heard from 7/29/2025'

Aug 5, 2025

Search underway for Minnesota hiker missing in Wyoming wilderness​

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office in north-central Wyoming said Grant Gardner texted his wife on the night of July 29, to let her know he reached the top of Cloud Peak.

Gardner “indicated the climb was more taxing than he expected and he was tired,” the sheriff’s office said, and he was planning to head to a lower elevation for the night. He hasn’t been heard from since.....

“In addition to high altitude and terrain challenges, difficult weather patterns including winds, thunder and lightning storms...

• FoxxTraxx
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Missing Persons Discussion

• 
• 

Free climbing - without equipment - is a thing.

In Austin's summit message, he mentioned he 'free soloed too many cliffs' on his way up because he got lost. WY - WY - Austin King, 22, Yellowstone National Park, Eagle Peak, 17 Sept 2024

If you want search maps, go right back to the beginning of the thread, there are lots showing the areas covered in the initial days.

MOO

 

[ch_13]

From @Gophers_FTW article:

David Francis, the foundation’s executive director, said Thursday morning four cadaver dog teams and climbing experts canvassed the east side of the rugged mountain peak most commonly traveled.

“It is a process of elimination,” he said. “It is a bit risky, but we have concluded that [King] is not on the east side.”

Francis said there was “dog interest” on the west side of Eagle Peak before the search finished. The foundation shared details of its operation with the National Park Service, which manages Yellowstone.

MSN