Search continues in Park for missing hiker
The search for a missing seasonal employee at Glacier National Park entered its third day on Wednesday, Aug. 31, as a weather front threatened to bring lower temperatures and even snow in the mountains.
The search for Jacob "Jake" Rigby, 27, began Monday after he failed to return from a day hike on Sunday. More than 50 people, including ground crews, helicopters, a search-dog team and specially trained human trackers, were focused on the southern part of the Park after Rigby's vehicle was found at the Fielding Trailhead along U.S. 2.
Park rangers believe Rigby may have signed the summit register on top of Brave Dog Mountain on Sunday. After this discovery, searchers concentrated on the climber's route from Brave Dog Mountain to Mount Despair, between the Ole Creek and Park Creek drainages. The terrain is extremely steep and treacherous and typically only sees skilled hikers and climbers. Personnel from the Flathead National Forest and Flathead Valley Search and Rescue joined Park rangers in the search.
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the West Glacier region Wednesday night through noon Thursday. A weather front is expected to bring lower temperatures, rain showers and even snow at higher elevations. The advisory predicts 1-3 inches of snow above 6,500 feet by Thursday morning, with lighter snowfall at lower elevations.
Searchers believe Rigby was hiking an extreme mountain traverse with challenging terrain in the Soldier Mountain, Sheep Mountain, Brave Dog Mountain, Mount Despair and Eagle Ribs Mountain. The area is north of U.S. 2 near the Snow Slip Inn. Rigby's vehicle was located along U.S. 2 at mile marker 192.
Rigby, a 2002 graduate of Johnsburg High School, in Illinois, has a geology degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He worked on the exotic plant program in Glacier Park. His supervisor notified Park rangers that he did not show up for work at his scheduled time on Monday.
Park officials say Rigby is an avid and skilled hiker and is familiar with the Park. He has excellent scouting capabilities and enjoys hiking off trail. He is 6 feet tall with brown, of medium build with short curly hair. He was probably wearing a blue T-shirt, blue Patagonia hiking shorts, size 10 La Sportiva boots with Vibram soles and possibly gaiters and carrying a white/silver Mamut daypack.
Posters with Rigby's photo and key information have been posted in the Park and other locations. Anyone who may have been in the area in the Ole Creek or Park Creek drainages on Sunday and may have seen Rigby is encouraged to contact park dispatch at 406-888-7800 or 406-888-5800.