Helicopters, drones, rescue dogs and thermal cameras – but still no sign of missing Cian McLaughlin, 38 days after he went for a walk

Hundreds of people have disappeared in America’s vast wilderness in the past century. While dozens remain unfound in parks across the US, Mr McLaughlin is currently the only person missing in Grand Teton, according to the database Missing NPF.

In Yellowstone National Park, which is also mostly in Wyoming, four people who went missing were never seen again.

One of the men – Daniel Campbell – was last seen on April 4, 1991. He was travelling with his dog and neither has been found.

Some missing person cases have been put down to accidents, personal tragedies, animal attacks or exposure to extreme weather, but others remain a mystery.

Grand Teton is located just south of Yellowstone and is smaller in scale. It contains 310,000 acres of mountainous land with pristine lakes and rivers and the terrain is extremely steep in parts.

Park staff are regularly alerted about missing hikers, but most are usually found unharmed.

However, there have been a number of tragic incidents over the years. In February, a skier was killed after an avalanche swept him down a mountainside. In 2018, a hiker died while trying to scale Teewinot Mountain.

Since Mr McLaughlin (27) disappeared on June 8, park staff have been involved in their largest search operation in recent years. Helicopters, rescue dogs, drones and thermal imaging cameras were deployed and up to 70 people were involved in the first week of the search.

Investigators took statements from 140 people. However, the operation has now been scaled back.

A Grand Teton spokes- person told the Irish Independent yesterday: “Park staff are operating in a continuous but limited mode.

“New clues will be investigated when they come forward. Updated missing person posters are being posted throughout the park and overnight back country users will be advised to look for clues.

“In addition, all park staff who have regular work in the back country will be expected to search as part of their regular duties.”

On Tuesday, the US National Park Service published a new flyer with details of what Mr McLaughlin was wearing when he disappeared, including an Apple watch, a white T-shirt, a silver necklace and wire-rimmed sunglasses. He had a red iPhone 12 mini and may also have been wearing a bucket hat, shorts and hiking boots.

A GoFundMe page set up to help his family travel to the US has raised more than €48,000. His mother, Gráinne, flew to Wyoming with her partner last month. An update posted on the page said: “Thank you to everyone for holding Cian and Gráinne in your hearts, and for your generosity and prayers. Gráinne feels massively supported and loved.”

Mr McLaughlin was born in Dublin, and his Facebook page says he studied at Dublin Institute of Technology.

He has dual Irish/US citizenship and had been living in Jackson, Wyoming, where he worked as a bartender and snowboard instructor. In April last year, he travelled home to Ireland and later returned to the US.

Friends have been sharing updates on social media, appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

His uncle, Mark McLaughlin, who lives in California, took part in the searches. He told local media: “We love and miss Cian. As a family we know the longer this extends out, the outcome will not be positive.”

He said his nephew knew the trail he was hiking well as it was “his favourite”. He described him as a “talented musician”, “friendly spirit” and someone who worked to travel.

Concerns were first raised when he did not turn up to work on June 10. He was reported missing two days later.

The main breakthrough so far has been the discovery of his car near the Lupine Meadows trailhead. A witness who saw him on the trail said he was making his way toward Taggart Lake, and investigators narrowed their searches, but no new information has come to light.

The witness said Mr McLaughlin told him he was from Ireland and was living in Jackson.

Mr McLaughlin is described as six feet tall, with brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. He is of thin build and weighs a little under 13 stone.

Park officials said he did not have a backpack and was travelling lightly. The last ping from his mobile phone was at 3.30pm on June 8.

Erika Jostad, chief ranger for Grand Teton National Park, indicated the search will not stop until Mr McLaughlin has been found.

“Mental health has not been a feature of the profile we developed. This looked like a simple afternoon walk in the park. We’re trying to keep a really open mind about where he might have gone.”