Rescuers in Yellowstone National Park are searching for 22-year-old concession worker Austin King, who went missing after a weeklong trek on and around Eagle Peak last week. Despite efforts involving more than 20 searchers, helicopters, drones, and canine teams, King has yet to be found. He last spoke to a backcountry ranger on September 16, describing challenging weather conditions on the summit of Eagle Peak. The park service launched the search after King failed to check in on Friday as planned. Search crews found personal items belonging to King in the upper Howell Creek area, but his whereabouts remain unknown. King embarked on his trek after being dropped off by boat at Terrace Point on Yellowstone Lake, a popular spot for overnight hiking and camping. Temperatures in the park have been cold, with highs struggling to reach 60 degrees. King is described as 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with hazel eyes, wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt, and gray pants. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center. The search has involved crews from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, as well as Park and Teton counties in Wyoming, focusing on the Yellowstone Lake area and Eagle Peak. The whereabouts of King’s 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup with Minnesota plates are also unknown.
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