Rain creates problem for hiker search

WEST GLACIER, Mont. (WOOD) - The weather has led to slick and some unsafe conditions for search crews looking for a missing Hudsonville man in a Montana national park.

The park received .34 inches of rain Thursday night making the steep cliffs and rocky terrain more dangerous than usual.

Jakson Kreiser, 19, went missing on Saturday in Glacier National Park during his day-long hike on Hidden Lake Trail. Kreiser was a seasonal employee at Lake McDonald Lounge, but a park service investigation discovered that he had very little hiking experience.

More details on Kreiser's possible whereabouts surfaced Wednesday when a partial boot print was found and another hiker provided additional information to search crews. Thursday another boot print was found.

Search teams adjusted their strategy Friday after rainfall in the search area.

Rescue crews have been focusing their search between Hidden Lake and Avalanche Lake. But on Friday, the search will focus between the Hidden Lake and Mary Baker Lake areas.

According to a release, Incident Commander Scott Emmerich said, "We have two goals with this incident - one, find Mr. Kreiser and two, keep all our search personnel safe."

Dozens gathered at a vigil Thursday night in Hudsonville to pray for Kreiser's safe return. They were optimistic that Kreiser will be found.

"If there was on person that I had to choose to be put in this situation, it'd be Jakson because he's going to find his way out," said friend Tyler Doane.

The route he intended to hike from Logan Pass to Avalanche Lake can be dangerous. The landscape had rock cliffs, waterfalls and slippery rocks. The descent is more than 4,000 feet in some areas, the release said.

Kreiser's parents have gone to Montana to aid in the search.