Electric Peak is nearly 11,000 feet above sea level and is located in the far northwestern corner of Yellowstone National Park, near Gardiner, Mont. (NPS file photo/J. Schmidt)
From Staff Reports
Authorities are investigating the death of a Montana man who went missing Tuesday after hiking Electric Peak, in the far northwestern corner of Yellowstone National Park.
Searchers found the body of Joseph Austin Parker, 23, on Thursday morning, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office.
The last known contact with Parker was a cell phone call he made to friends about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Parker told his friends he was below the summit of Electric Peak, and because of nearby lightning, he was starting to descend the mountain.
Parker was hiking alone and was reported missing by a friend at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and a search was initiated by the National Park Service.
An aerial search by both airplane and helicopter and ground search by teams in 4-wheel drive vehicles, on horseback and on foot did not turn up any apparent clues to Parker’s whereabouts Wednesday, park officials said.
Parker’s body was discovered below the summit of Electric Peak shortly after the search resumed Thursday morning. Details on the cause of death were not immediately available, and an investigation is continuing.
Originally from Valdosta, Ga., Parker was working at a local Gardiner, Montana business.
Electric Peak is an 11,000-foot mountain in the Gallatin Range, located west of Gardiner, Montana in the northwest portion of Yellowstone National Park.
Park officials said the National Park Service worked closely with a variety of agencies and landowners including the Park County, Montana Sheriff’s Office in conducting the search.
People really underestimate the danger of lightning. Although they have not announced the cause of death of this young man, chances are he was struck by lightning as he stated lightning was in the area, and he was descending because of it. Although Joseph knew he was in danger and was taking the right steps to protect himself, many people have no idea how lightning behaves and how it can strike many miles from the main storm body. More info to visitors and staff alike could possibly prevent some of the lightning deaths that occur every year in the Yellowstone area. While volunteering for the Yellowstone Assoc. Institute in 2005, I attended a training class held specifically about lightning. The info I received during that class led to my bringing a class down off a ridge shortly thereafter due to lightning, as I was charged with the safety of the class. A ranger taking that class on a rare day off told me I absolutely made the right decision to bring them down even though the storm was some distance away from our location. I so appreciated the comment, as several class members and the instructor gave me quite a bit of flack about my decision. Please learn more about the dangers of lightning!
My condolences go out to Joseph Parkers family and friends.
I grew up in Park County; it’s called Electric Peak for a reason. When storm clouds gather within eyesight you need to move down the mountain.
I’m working in Glacier this summer and we had a group of three hikers struck by lightning yesterday on the St Mary’s Falls trail… lightning is a serious danger, I wish more people took the risk seriously.