Search for missing Minnesota man in Yellowstone scales back to recovery mission
MINNEAPOLIS — Crews at Yellowstone National Park are scaling back a rescue mission for a young Minnesota man who hasn't been seen for 11 days.
The park announced Wednesday that the rescue mission for 22-year-old Austin King will now turn to a recovery mission. Over 100 people have covered more than 3,225 miles by air and ground to search for King since he went missing.
King, who is originally from Winona, worked in Yellowstone as a concession employee. He failed to arrive for his boat pickup on Sept. 20 after his planned seven-day trip to summit Eagle Peak, park officials said. He called his family and friends from Eagle Peak on Sept. 17, but had not been heard from since.
Crews started their search on Sept. 21 and were able to find King's camp and personal effects in the upper Howell Creek area.
"Despite significant search efforts over the past week and a half, we have not been able to locate Austin," said Superintendent Cam Sholly. "Although we will continue to hope for the best, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Austin's family, friends and colleagues. I also want to thank the teams from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and Park and Teton counties, Wyoming, who have all worked tirelessly to find Austin in some of the most difficult and remote terrain in Yellowstone."