GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – Park rangers believe they have found the body of a Highlands Ranch man who was last seen last Wednesday while hiking near Jenny Lake in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park.
Dozens of people joined a helicopter crew to search for 21-year-old Rene Dreiling over the past week. The park posted on Facebook that crews on a reconnaissance flight spotted what they believe to be his body around 7 p.m. Sunday.
Dreiling had been working for the Grand Teton Lodge Company this summer and was reported missing when he failed to show up for work Friday. He had planned to climb Table Mountain and other peaks near Hanging Mountain, rangers said.
The national park said the body found off a cliff band on the north side of Mt. Owen fits the description of Dreiling.
His former track coach at Valor Christian High School, Brian Kula, remembered Dreiling as an uplifting person when he talked to Denver7 last week.
“Just an awesome kid that was in the program, kids loved him, smile on his face, kind of a pop in my office kind of kid, just a really athletic little guy, would always entertain the team with backflips,” said Kula.
A park spokesman expressed regards for Dreiling’s family and appreciation for those who helped in the search.
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