JACKSON, Wyo. — This morning, Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) located a deceased hiker who had been considered missing for almost a week.
The 28-year-old man from Australia was found in a remote trail system between Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks around 8:20 a.m., according to TCSAR. He was located near the Wigwams, on the west slope of the Tetons.
“Evidence suggests that he may have fallen from a steep, high-altitude ridgeline that separates Grand Teton National Park and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness,” TCSAR’s announcement states.
According to park officials, the man had been attempting a thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail starting in Canada. Using a Garmin satellite device, he shared updates with his family in Australia. He had given them an update on July 19 from the Old Faithful area, noting his intention to travel through the Tetons, the Gros Ventre Wilderness, the Wind River Range and the Divide Basin.
“On July 23, the family received a Garmin check-in without coordinates or a message, as well as a video via Facebook Messenger that they believe placed him in the Tetons,” TCSAR’s announcement states. “When no further communication followed, they contacted park officials on July 27.”
These last tracking points led park officials to track down the Wigwams location, which was when TCSAR got involved. TCSAR assembled a short-haul operation on Wednesday morning and headed to the Wigwams. Volunteers saw a bright orange backpack from the helicopter, and soon found the deceased hiker below the ridge south of North Wigwam Peak. They transported his body to TCSAR headquarters before delivering it to the Teton County Coroner’s Office.
“TCSAR sends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, and wishes to express its gratitude to the partnering federal agencies who assisted in the investigation,” TCSAR stated.
