Search and rescue crews discovered limited clues Tuesday into the whereabouts of a missing hiker in Glacier National Park.
New information surfaced from another hiker who interacted with 19-year-old Jakson Kreiser on the Hidden Lake Trail on Saturday. The hiker provided search crews with information that helps establish timing and location of Kreiser on Saturday morning, according to a park news release. Also partial boot tracks were found that are very similar to the boots believed to be worn by Kreiser.
“The clues identified yesterday are valuable in helping narrow our focus for the search efforts, and they help to identify the areas of highest probability of finding Mr. Kreiser,” Incident Commander Scott Emmerich said in a statement.
Emmerich said that the park and the many partners in the search incident are committed to do all they can to find Kreiser.
The North Valley Search and Rescue Team and a Glacier National Park employee identified partial tracks that match the sole pattern of boots believed to be worn by Kreiser. The tracks were located near Mary Baker Lake in the Floral Park area. This area was previously identified and has been part of the search area.
The search area is focused in the area between Hidden Lake and Avalanche Lake. Kreiser’s vehicle was found in the Logan Pass Visitor Center Parking Lot and officials believe Kreiser was attempting a day hike from Logan Pass to Avalanche Lake. His intended route is through treacherous country filled with rock cliffs, water falls, wet and slippery rocks and boulders and dense vegetation, according to the park. The descent is more than 4,000 feet in steep conditions.
Ground and aerial searches have been conducted since July 29 with several crews staying overnight in the backcountry. The U.S. Border Patrol has trained trackers involved as well as specialized canine search teams assisting with the incident. Other members of local search and rescue teams of the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office are supporting the incident as well.
Kreiser was reported missing when he failed to return following a day hike on July 28. He is a seasonal employee with Glacier Park, Inc. at Lake McDonald Lodge. A park incident management team has been organized and is managing the incident. Approximately 50 people are dedicated to the incident.
Kreiser, who is from Michigan, is in his first year working in the area. He is 6-feet-2 with black, short and curly hair, and a black beard. It is believed he is wearing a yellow sweatshirt and grey colored khaki pants, and carrying a grey and yellow backpack.
Anyone that may have been in the Logan Pass, Hidden Lake, Floral Park or Avalanche Lake areas over the weekend and may have seen Kreiser, is encouraged to contact park dispatch at 406-888-7800.