Yellowstone park officials began searching for a missing hiker in the Montana section of the park on Thursday according to public information officer Jonathan Shafer.

"An individual named Jeff Murphy is missing in the park currently," Shafer said. "He is last known to have been on the Rescue Creek Trail heading toward Turkey Pen Peak. He was last known to be in that area at 8:00 a.m. on June 7, 2017."

Murphy was visiting the park from Batavia, Illinois. He is 53 years old and thought to be wearing glasses. He is 5' 11" tall, 190 pounds and may be wearing khaki pants, a yellow t-shirt, navy pullover, a green and gray rain jacket, and an army green backpack."

It is unknown if Murphy was equipped with survival gear or prepared for a night in the wilderness. Shafer says the park was ramping up the search as of 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Anyone with information about Murphy’s whereabouts has been asked to contact park officials at (307) 344-2643.

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