Canyonlands National Park searches for missing 71-year-old hiker

The National Park Service is conducting search and rescue operations for 71-year-old Patrick J. Trier, who has been missing near Horseshoe Canyon in Canyonlands National Park since mid-August.

Trier was last seen in Salina, Utah, on August 16. He may have camped at Goblin Valley State Park or near Moab before arriving at the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead on August 17. His vehicle, a maroon 2004 Toyota RAV4, was discovered by law enforcement at the trailhead on August 23 after an overdue party was reported.

Search efforts involving the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and Wayne County Search and Rescue include both aerial and ground searches. Officials noted that the rugged terrain, strenuous hiking conditions, and daytime temperatures reaching the high 90s have complicated the mission.

Trier is described as a white man, approximately 6 feet tall with a medium build, long brown hair, and a mustache. He has an atrophied right arm and was likely wearing jeans and a blue hat while carrying a small black-and-gray backpack.