Young American Man Missing in Yellowstone National Park

yellowstone national park, wyoming, usa - Twenty-two-year-old Austin King disappeared in Yellowstone National Park in mid-September. His parents shared a note found on a mountaintop where Austin was last seen.

On September 17, Austin King, 22, called his parents. Three days after his departure, he had reached the highest mountaintop in Yellowstone, Eagle Peak in Wyoming. Then, all communication stopped.

Now, his father Brian King-Henke has released a handwritten page from his son's diary found on the mountaintop, detailing the hardships Austin faced during the climb. 'I can't feel my fingers anymore, and my eyeglasses are fogging up from the ruthless mountain weather,' King wrote. 'I can't believe I'm here, it took so much effort. I endured rain, sleet, hail, and the strongest wind I've ever felt.'

Due to heavy mist, he couldn't even see the mountaintop he was on clearly, but that didn't deter him. 'I'm 22 years old, and I will remember this day for the rest of my life. Life is beautiful, go outside and live,' he concluded the note.

What happened to King afterward remains a mystery. The young man had started a seven-day hike on September 14. Search efforts are ongoing, but no results have been found yet. Father King has initiated a fundraiser to finance the continual search for his son. 'He was one of the finest people I've ever met. A best friend to his younger brother as well. Always had a smile on his face... I can't even find the words to explain what we're going through,' he told American media.