22-Year-Old Missing Hiker From Minnesota Left an Eerie Note At Mountaintop
A note from a 22-year-old Minnesota man and subsequent disappearance in Wyoming has worried his family and authorities. Austin King called his best friend on September 17, and was never heard from again, UNILAD reported. According to his acquaintances, the last thing he was known to be doing was a solo climb of Eagle Peak in Yellowstone National Park.
Authorities found a note allegedly written by King on the top of Eagle Peak, where the man detailed the hardships he had to undergo to reach that point. Since King has been reported missing, officials have been searching the area for him, but are yet to find any clues about his location.
The Summer Plan
Austin King planned to work in Yellowstone National Park for the summer and then return home to Winona, Daily Mail reported. He was employed with the travel company Xanterra Yellowstone, during the time of his disappearance. Brian King-Henke, the hiker's father, suggested his son take up this job and explore the country.
"I'm the one who told him to come out here," his father shared, KTVQ reported. "You know, I was like, 'You're 22. Go see the United States.' He took on something he was not prepared for." Austin reportedly came to the park in his 2006 Chevy Silverado and set out for the mountain hike on September 14.
Officials have confirmed that he took a boat ride to reach Terrace Point, which is just ten miles away from the peak. Two days later, a backcountry ranger spoke to him on the banks of Howell Creek, as he was making his way to the east of the mountain.
The Hike to Eagle Peak
Austin King's friends claimed he had been talking about the mountain for weeks, Daily Mail reported. Authorities believe that King took the entire day to reach the peak, and reached the summit at around 6 p.m. This meant that there was little time for him to make it back to the camp in daylight. The man reportedly was in complete darkness within an hour and a half of reaching the top. He did not show up for his scheduled boat ride back to his RV, and officials were informed after three days that he was nowhere to be found.
Austin's Last Phone Call
After reaching the summit, Austin King called his best friend, and he was the last person King had interaction with, Daily Mail reported. Desmond McGroarty, 22 who followed the hiker in Yellowstone, was on the other side of the phone and was happy to hear about his friend's success.
"He was super ecstatic," McGroarty shared, Cowboy State Daily reported. "He did say his hands were cold and stuff, but it sounded like he just didn't care because he was so excited he made it to the top."
McGroarty added, that this hike to Eagle Peak was the most challenging thing Austin King had ever done. He was very determined about the climb and had made detailed plans about it.
Emotional Letter
The note that Austin King left on the mountaintop described his arduous journey as well as the sense of achievement he was feeling after completing the task, Daily Mail reported. "I can't feel my fingers and my glasses are so fogged from the ruthless weather of the mountains," King wrote in an entry dated September 17.
"I truly cannot believe I am here after what it took to be here. I endured rain, sleet, hail and the most wind I have ever felt." He goes on to share that for most of the day, the Eagle Peak was not visible because of the fog. Despite the hardships, the man was happy to have made the hike.
"I free soloed too many cliffs to get here and walked up to the peak from the connecting peak – AKA not the right path. I am 22 years old and I will never forget today (for) the rest of my life," he said. He ended the note with an inspiring message, "Life is beautiful, get out and LIVE IT!" Authorities have been searching the area for weeks, but there have been no breakthroughs yet.