Austin King and family | Source: Facebook/Austin King-Henke
The father of a 22-year-old missing hiker has shared his son’s final words, which were left atop Eagle Peak in Yellowstone National Park.
Austin King-Henke, a young concession worker at the famous park, went up Eagle Peak on September 17, 2024, and hasn’t been seen since. Now, nearly a month later, his father, Brian King-Henke, has shared his son’s final note, found while he and volunteer searchers race against worsening weather to find clues in the rugged wilderness where the young man vanished.
In the message from the summit registry, Austin detailed extreme climate conditions, including rain, sleet, and strong winds that impaired his vision. “I can’t feel my fingers and my glasses are so fogged from the ruthless weather of the mountains,” he
wrote
.
Austin also admitted to taking the wrong path up the mountain. Despite the obstacles, he expressed gratitude for the experience,
ending with
the words, “Life is beautiful, go out and LIVE IT!”
Search efforts were launched when Austin failed to show up for a scheduled boat ride back to Grant Village three days after starting the trek up this Yellowstone area.
Unfortunately, looking for him has been intense and
challenging
. The rugged terrain of Eagle Peak, including cliffs and ravines, has made it difficult to locate any clues.
John Lamb, an experienced hiker leading the
volunteer search
, believes Austin may have been disoriented on his way down the mountain.
This is because Austin also reportedly left
a voicemail
for his father, which arrived a week late due to poor signal. In the message, he mentioned being unsure of the correct path down.
Although Yellowstone National Park authorities scaled back their search on October 2, switching from a rescue mission to a
recovery effort
, volunteers remain undeterred.
Additionally, Yellowstone has authorized additional
aerial forages
. With
snow forecasted
soon, the window for favorable weather is closing.
Volunteers have been
camping near
the base of Eagle Peak, working tirelessly, despite the dangers of falling rocks and the presence of grizzly bears.
Community support has been overwhelming, with
locals donating
food, supplies, and firewood to keep the search going. New technology, including drones, is also being used to scan difficult terrain for any signs of Austin.
Most importantly, Brian has expressed his determination to continue the search, saying he feels it’s
his duty
as a father. He has been reaching out for more experienced hikers to join the effort, as the current team explores every lead, and has been
raising funds
to pay for all this.
Though almost a month has passed since Austin’s disappearance, Brian and the volunteers show no signs of stopping and post
updates
every day. Many are standing behind them and hard work continues in the hopes for Austin’s safe recovery.
Anyone with information regarding the young hiker’s whereabouts is urged
to contact
the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center at 307.344.2643. Our thoughts and prayers are with Austin’s family as they continue their challenging hunt for answers.