Irish Man (Cian McLaughlin) Missing in Grand Teton National Park
Disappearance
Wednesday 16th, June 2021
A search operation for a missing 27 year old Dublin man is being scaled back. Cian McLaughlin was reported to have been last seen at around 3.45pm on Tuesday 8th June 2021 on the Garnet Canyon Trail in Grand Teton National Park.
On Saturday 19th June 2021 the national park service said that the search for Cian McLaughlin will shift tactics to a continuous, but limited mode "after days of extensive ground and aerial efforts.". Officials have said that park staff will continue to patrol the backcountry for signs of Cian McLaughlin, and that any new clues will be investigated as they come forward.
The investigation team spoke with over 140 people with tips and information about McLaughlin. Search efforts over the past number of days have included 70 park staff per day conducting ground search efforts in high probability areas of the backcountry, with over 45 helicopter search missions being conducted. There have been six search dog and rescue teams, members of Teton County Search and Rescue and the Teton Interagency Helicopter. "Some of these efforts included navigating steep, technical terrain in hazardous areas. Many of these areas require rope, an ice axe, crampons, and other protective equipment to access," a park official said.
Cian was reported missing on the morning of Sunday the 13th June 2021 by Teton County Sheriff's Office. His car was later found at the start of a hiking trail in the 310,000 acre park. The National Park Service said he was last seen in the town of Jackson last Tuesday afternoon. He failed to report for work in Jackson on Thursday and the local sheriff's office received a missing person report late on Saturday night.
In an update on Thursday 17th June 2021, the National Park Service said search efforts were continuing but that rangers had received a report of a June 8th sighting of a man fitting Mr McLaughlin's description from a local climbing guide. The guide reported seeing the man hiking up the Garnet Canyon trail, above the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake junction around 3.45pm on June 8th. He described him as a solo hiker who had shoulder length hair and was wearing round glasses, a white shirt, shorts, and a hat. The guide also reported the man as having tattoos on his arms and carrying a bottle of water.
The hike to Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park begins from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, located just south of Jenny Lake. The trail is described by the National Park Service as "strenuous". It is an 8.4 mile round trip. The National Park Service also warns that black bears are frequently seen along the trail. "It's best to travel in groups of three or more, make a lot of noise, and carry bear spray while hiking in the Tetons," it says.
"As McLaughlin's plans were unclear, anyone who has been travelling in the Teton backcountry since Tuesday, June 8th, may have seen him," said the National Parks Service.
On Saturday 19th June 2021 the national park service said that the search for Cian McLaughlin will shift tactics to a continuous, but limited mode "after days of extensive ground and aerial efforts.". Officials have said that park staff will continue to patrol the backcountry for signs of Cian McLaughlin, and that any new clues will be investigated as they come forward.
The investigation team spoke with over 140 people with tips and information about McLaughlin. Search efforts over the past number of days have included 70 park staff per day conducting ground search efforts in high probability areas of the backcountry, with over 45 helicopter search missions being conducted. There have been six search dog and rescue teams, members of Teton County Search and Rescue and the Teton Interagency Helicopter. "Some of these efforts included navigating steep, technical terrain in hazardous areas. Many of these areas require rope, an ice axe, crampons, and other protective equipment to access," a park official said.
Cian was reported missing on the morning of Sunday the 13th June 2021 by Teton County Sheriff's Office. His car was later found at the start of a hiking trail in the 310,000 acre park. The National Park Service said he was last seen in the town of Jackson last Tuesday afternoon. He failed to report for work in Jackson on Thursday and the local sheriff's office received a missing person report late on Saturday night.
In an update on Thursday 17th June 2021, the National Park Service said search efforts were continuing but that rangers had received a report of a June 8th sighting of a man fitting Mr McLaughlin's description from a local climbing guide. The guide reported seeing the man hiking up the Garnet Canyon trail, above the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake junction around 3.45pm on June 8th. He described him as a solo hiker who had shoulder length hair and was wearing round glasses, a white shirt, shorts, and a hat. The guide also reported the man as having tattoos on his arms and carrying a bottle of water.
The hike to Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park begins from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, located just south of Jenny Lake. The trail is described by the National Park Service as "strenuous". It is an 8.4 mile round trip. The National Park Service also warns that black bears are frequently seen along the trail. "It's best to travel in groups of three or more, make a lot of noise, and carry bear spray while hiking in the Tetons," it says.
"As McLaughlin's plans were unclear, anyone who has been travelling in the Teton backcountry since Tuesday, June 8th, may have seen him," said the National Parks Service.
