The final two weeks in Yellowstone were a continuation of the pace and intensity of the season. Our work in the clinic only slightly slowed down, but the acuity of patients increased. Our EMS calls kept coming but our staffing had started to be limited due to commitments elsewhere for the seasonal staff, as people headed off to school, other assignments, or attended to family matters. This was a time of stepping up for those of us remaining, we answered the calls, we supported each other and patients got excellent care.
And then…a tragedy struck. A young man who was working as a seasonal employee with one of the concessionaires went missing. Austin King is a 22 year old who is an experienced triathlete and one of his goals for the season was to summit Eagle Peak – the most remote, austere and rugged terrain in Yellowstone National Park, and in the lower 48 states. One has to take a boat across Lake Yellowstone, be dropped off and then hike for several days before being in position to climb Eagle Peak. On a Tuesday he succeeded in his climb and called his mom from the top, reporting that he was in the middle of poor weather…rain, hail, wind, snow…and was going to get off the mountain as soon as possible. That was the last anyone heard from him. On Friday the boat came to pick him up from the designated location, but Austin was not there. The first indication of trouble. The boat captain radioed in to the communication center that a back-country hiker was “overdue”. It was late in the day, emergency services were promptly notified and a plan to start a search-and-rescue at sunrise the next morning was put in place. Over the next two weeks, countless miles of trail and mountain sides were searched by some of the best search-and-rescue teams in the country. I was humbled to be tasked with supporting the search efforts as a member of the helicopter team. We followed-up on clues that were identified by the ground teams and did targeted searches up and over Eagle Peak, flying above the 11,300ft mountain in search of Austin.
As of this post, Austin is still missing. May God grant mercy and comfort to him and his family as the search continues. (Updates: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/240922.htm)
While the outcome of the massive search-and-rescue is not as we all wished, Austin and his family have been honored by all the efforts of the rescuers. Yellowstone will be forever touched by his presence. A reminder that Yellowstone is a place of awesome beauty and majesty, but also is not without risk deserving of much respect by all of us.
As the days ticked by during my last two weeks…I rotated out of search-and-rescue staffing to help elsewhere in the park for paramedic coverage. I completed my final shifts working in the clinic and we ended the season with a festive dinner for all the clinic staff. I made my rounds, answered a few more ambulance calls, and then it was time to depart. I packed my things, turned in my pager and radio, said my good byes and just like that…2024 in Yellowstone came to a close as I drove through the park one more time and exited by way of the south entrance.
I can honestly say I loved every single day, every single hour, every single minute being with the people, in this place, doing what we love…working together, helping others.
Thanks for following along. If you are thinking of embarking on an adventure someday, I encourage you to take the trip, and travel well. Do not wait…just go!
