Park rangers launch search for 22-year-old missing in Yellowstone

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Park rangers are searching Yellowstone National Park for a 22-year-old concession worker last heard from nearly a week ago.

Austin King was reported missing after failing to arrive for his boat pickup Friday afternoon near Yellowstone Lake's Southeast Arm, at the end of his seven-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak, the National Park Service said Sunday in a statement .

A search was launched Saturday morning. That night, rescuers found King's camp and personal effects in upper Howell Creek.

On Sunday, more than 20 ground searchers, aided by two helicopters, drones and a search dog team, scoured the area near Eagle Peak in Yellowstone's remote southeast corner in search of King. Authorities are calling on the public for assistance in finding King, who is described as 6 feet tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes and wears glasses.

King was last heard from Tuesday at about 7 p.m. local time when he called friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak, where he reported fog, rain, sleet, hail and windy conditions.

Park officials said in a missing person flyer that King was dropped off at Yellowstone's Terrace Point on Sept. 14. Two days later, he spoke with a backcountry ranger at Howell Creek.

Park officials are asking anyone who might have come into contact with King since Sept. 14 or has information about his whereabouts to contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications.