The father of a hiker who disappeared after reaching the summit of a mountain in a month ago has been desperately trying to conduct his own search. Brian King-Henke attempted to organize a private effort to find Austin King as weather forecasters predicted a winter storm was set to hit Eagle Peak in Wyoming. The move came as official rescuers scaled back their search and rescue for the 22-year-old who has not been seen or heard from since September 17.
However, the bid to scramble a scour of the area was thwarted when the park would not allow a request to helicopter extra people into the area for ground searches. A park statement reported that they were unable to verify if the helicopter pilot had sufficient experience flying to land in mountainous terrain. It added that, given the weather forecast for a winter storm, the plan was to stop all current search efforts.
King-Henke revealed his anguish over the latest news, telling British news outlet the that he was extremely worried his son would not now be found until spring. From October to April, the National Park Service closes roads in Yellowstone due to winter weather. We have previously reported the , and that King left voicemails for family and friends, as well as a .
In the note left in the summit registry, King described the treacherous conditions. He wrote: “I can’t feel my fingers and my glasses are so fogged from the ruthless weather of the mountains. I truly cannot believe I am here after what it took to be her.
