Yellowstone Insider Your Complete Guide to America's First National Park
Some sad fall Yellowstone news: after two brothers were reported missing after a planned four-night backcountry trip to Shoshone Lake, one body was recovered yesterday and the search continues for the other.
Mark O’Neill, 67, from Chimacum, Washington, and his half-brother, Kim Crumbo, 74, from Ogden, Utah, were reported overdue by a family member Sunday, Sept. 19 after their four-night backcountry trip to Shoshone Lake. That same day park crews located a vacant campsite with gear on the south side of Shoshone Lake, as well as a canoe, paddle, PFD and other personal belongings on the east shore of the lake. Crews located the body of O’Neill along the east shore during the morning of Monday, Sept. 20.
Both O’Neill and Crumbo are National Park Service (NPS) retirees, and Crumbo is a former Navy Seal.
Search and rescue efforts continue with 10 crew members on foot in the area Tuesday, Sept. 21 to locate Crumbo. Grand Teton National Park interagency ship and crew are also assisting with air operations.
This incident remains under investigation.
Shoshone Lake, the park’s second-largest lake, is located at the head of the Lewis River southwest of West Thumb. At 8,050 acres (3,258 ha), its average year-round temperature is about 48 F (9 C). Survival time is estimated to be only 20 to 30 minutes in water of this temperature.
Photo of Shoshone Lake courtesy National Park Service.
