Hiker’s Body Found in Yellowstone Park

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — The body of a 23-year-old solo hiker has been found near the summit of an 11,000 foot mountain in Yellowstone National Park. The National Park Service says Joseph Austin Parker was originally from Valdosta, Ga., but most recently had been working in Gardiner, Mont.

The agency says Parker was reported missing about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, about five hours after he called friends saying he was descending Electric Peak because of nearby lightning.

An aerial and ground search turned up nothing until Thursday morning when his body was discovered below the summit of Electric Peak. The cause of death is under investigation. Electric Peak is located in the Gallatin Range in the northwest corner of Yellowstone.