Body of McHenry County hiker found in National Park - Chicago Sun-Times

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SUN-TIMES MEDIA September 3, 2011 8:04AM

The search for a hiker originally from McHenry County continued Wednesday in a rugged section of Glacier National Park in Montana. Jacob Rigby, 27, a seasonal employee of the National Park Service, has been missing since going hiking in the park last weekend. About 2 a.m. Monday, park dispatch received a call informing them Rigby was overdue from a personal day hike, a release from the park said.

Updated: September 3, 2011 8:22AM

The weeklong search in a rugged section of Glacier National Park in Montana for a hiker originally from McHenry County ended Friday afternoon when his body was spotted on a mountain at the southern end of the park.

An initial investigation indicated that Jacob "Jake" Rigby, 27, may have fallen approximately 800 feet on the north side of the extremely steep mountain, known as "8888," according to a release from the park. Search personnel found his body at approximately 2 p.m. Friday.

Rigby's body was spotted by helicopter personnel during an aerial search of the high-probability area between Ole Creek and Park Creek Drainages, the release said.

Incident managers on Friday were determining a plan to safely recover the body.

The extensive search effort began Monday, after Rigby was overdue from a personal day hike in the park on Sunday, the release said. More than 50 people helped with the search efforts, including 31 searchers who were searching and camping overnight in the steep and treacherous terrain. Ground and helicopter searches were launched Monday in several areas continuing possible hiking routes, the release said. Ground crews, helicopters, a search dog team and specially trained human trackers were involved, with members of the Flathead National Forest and Flathead Valley Search and Rescue assisting.

Rigby worked for the exotic plant team at the park for the past three summers. He also worked at other National Park Service sites during the winter season, the release said.

The area where he had gone hiking is extremely steep and treacherous, one that only the most highly skilled hikers and climbers attempt to access.

On his Facebook page, Rigby said he is a native of northwest suburban Johnsburg who studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Posters with his photo and key information had been posted in the park and other nearby locations.

03 Sep, 2011

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