After days of extensive ground and aerial efforts, the search for 27-year-old Cian McLaughlin in Grand Teton National Park will shift tactics to a continuous, but limited mode. New clues will be investigated as they come forward. Park staff will continue to patrol the backcountry and search for signs of McLaughlin’s whereabouts.
Over the course of the last six days, up to 70 park staff per day have conducted search operations in the park’s backcountry. These operations involved multiple search and rescue dog teams. 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.
Over 45 helicopter search missions have been conducted. Rangers engaged Teton County Search and Rescue’s aerial RECCO rescue technology, which assists in search and rescue incidents sending a signal which reflects off RECCO chips or clothing and sometimes cellphones.
The Civil Air Patrol conducted aerial operations using Forward Looking Infrared Technology, which uses thermal imaging cameras to detect heat sources. The investigation team has spoken with over 140 people about tips and information about McLaughlin. The last reported sighting of a man fitting his description was on the Garnet Canyon Trail, a short distance above the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake junction around 3:45 pm Tuesday, June 8th.
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