Crews searching for Johnsburg hiker at Montana national park

A major search is under way for a 27-year-old Johnsburg man who went for a hike in Glacier National Park in Montana Sunday and never returned.

Jacob “Jake” Rigby, who is a seasonal employee at the national park, was hiking an “extreme mountain traverse” Sunday and a search Monday involving ground teams and two helicopters did not reveal any clues, according to a statement on the park's website.

Park employees were notified about 2 a.m. Monday that Rigby was overdue from a personal day hike and his supervisor notified park rangers when he did not show up for work later that morning, according to the statement.

Rigby is an avid and skilled hiker who is familiar with the park, according to Glacier National Park officials. He is working as a member of the exotic plant team at the park.

Park officials said he has excellent scouting capabilities and enjoys hiking off trail.

A preliminary search located his vehicle and park rangers were able to narrow the search after speaking to his friends and co-workers.

A team of more than 50 people is dedicated to the search with ground crews, helicopters, a search dog team and specially trained human trackers, according to the park.

Rigby received a degree in geology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, according to the Northwest Herald.

Rigby, who is 6 feet tall with curly short brown hair, has a medium build and is thought to be wearing a blue T-shirt, blue Patagonia hiking shorts, a white/silver Mamut daypack, size 10 La Sportiva boots and possibly gaiters.

Anyone with information is asked to call the park at (406) 888-7800 or (406) 888-5800.