Dad and Daughter Vanished Climbing Mt. Hooker, 11 Years Later Their Cliff Camp Is Found

In the rugged heart of Wyoming’s Wind River Range rises Mt. Hooker, a sheer granite face that draws climbers from around the world. Known for its vertical sweep and remote location, the mountain has been called both a test of endurance and a cathedral of stone. For one father and daughter, it became the setting of a mystery that stretched across more than a decade.

In July 2014, David McAllister, a 45-year-old outdoor guide from Colorado, and his 16-year-old daughter, Emily, vanished while attempting a multi-day climb on Mt. Hooker. Search teams scoured the cliffs and valleys for weeks, but no trace was found. Their disappearance haunted rescuers, puzzled climbing experts, and left family members in limbo.

Now, eleven years later, a discovery has reopened the case: a cliffside bivouac camp, wedged on a narrow ledge 1,500 feet above the valley floor, preserved like a time capsule.

A Father–Daughter Bond Forged in Stone

David was no stranger to danger. He had spent his life in the outdoors, teaching avalanche safety, guiding weekend hikers, and taking mountaineering clients across the Rockies. When Emily turned 12, he introduced her to climbing. What began as weekend cragging turned into multi-pitch ascents and alpine routes.

“Emily wasn’t just following her dad—she was talented,” recalls family friend and fellow climber, Hannah Schultz. “She had that calm under pressure you don’t usually see in teenagers. On the rock, she was focused, fearless.”

Their trip to Wyoming was meant to be a milestone: Emily’s first big wall. Mt. Hooker, with its thousand-foot faces and relative seclusion, offered both challenge and serenity. It was supposed to be the adventure that marked her transition from student to partner.

The Vanishing

According to their wilderness permit, David and Emily planned to spend five days in the Wind River Range. They hiked in on July 9th, carrying ropes, cams, and enough provisions for a week. The route noted in David’s journal was the classic North Face line—a demanding climb requiring technical skill, endurance, and precise planning.

When they failed to return by July 15th, David’s wife, Laura, contacted authorities. A search and rescue operation launched immediately, involving helicopters, ground teams, and even drones. The search lasted 18 days, covering hundreds of square miles.

“We found no gear, no clothing, not a single clue,” recalls retired Fremont County sheriff’s deputy Mark Ellison. “It was as if they had vanished into the mountain.”

By August, the operation was suspended. Family and friends clung to hope, but as months turned into years, the story faded into the realm of unsolved mysteries.

The Cliff Camp Discovery

This summer, a pair of climbers from Utah set out to ascend a lesser-known line on the southeast buttress of Mt. Hooker. Halfway up, on a ledge scarcely wider than a picnic bench, they noticed an old haul bag wedged beneath a boulder. Inside: weather-worn sleeping bags, a stove, and a logbook with the names David & Emily, July 2014 scrawled on the first page.

Word spread quickly. The Fremont County Search and Rescue team returned to the site, documenting the camp with modern rope access and drones.

“The camp was intact, as though frozen in time,” explained lead investigator Sarah Jennings. “Gear was stashed neatly. There were signs they cooked at least one meal. And then…nothing. No ropes leading upward, no evidence of descent.”

Among the artifacts recovered were Emily’s climbing journal, a waterproof pouch containing family photos, and a partially used topo map of the route.

Theories Resurface

The discovery reignited speculation. Did father and daughter attempt to push higher after camping on the ledge, only to be caught in a storm? Did an anchor fail, sending them plummeting into inaccessible terrain?

One prevailing theory is that rockfall may have swept their rope system. Another posits that David descended for supplies while Emily remained at camp, and an accident separated them.

Veteran climber and historian Doug Scott weighs in: “Mt. Hooker is remote. Rescue response is measured in days, not hours. Even a small mistake can mean permanent disappearance. The fact that their camp was orderly suggests they were in control up to that point.”

Some raise a more haunting possibility: that their bodies still rest in a crevasse or at the base of an unclimbed wall, hidden by decades of snow and shifting talus.

A Family’s Closure, and Questions

For Laura McAllister, the discovery is bittersweet. “We finally know they made it to the wall. We know they shared that camp together. That’s something. But we still don’t have them home.”

Emily’s younger brother, now 22, joined the recovery team on the hike into Mt. Hooker. Standing at the base of the granite wall, he described feeling both pride and sorrow. “It’s like they left a mark up there. They were living their dream. But it’s also where it ended.”

Lessons for the Climbing Community

The rediscovery of the cliff camp is already reshaping safety discussions among mountaineers. Climbers are reminded of several hard truths:

• Documentation matters. Emily’s journal and the marked topo map are now crucial to understanding their route and timeline.

• Remoteness magnifies risk. Unlike popular peaks with daily rescues, Mt. Hooker remains wild, demanding self-sufficiency.

• Family climbs carry added weight. A parent guiding a child balances teaching with responsibility, magnifying the stakes.

Climbers have begun to propose a memorial plaque at the trailhead, honoring both the risks and the beauty of venturing into such terrain.

The Enduring Mystery

Even as evidence emerges, the fate of David and Emily McAllister remains unsolved. Perhaps one day a thaw or rockslide will reveal more. Until then, their cliffside camp is both a shrine and a riddle.

For those who knew them, the discovery is not just about closure—it’s about carrying forward their love of the mountains.

“David always said climbing was about trust,” recalls Schultz. “Trust in your partner, trust in the rope, trust in yourself. In the end, maybe that’s what he passed on to Emily. Even if we never know the whole story, their trust in each other is written on that wall forever.”

Final Reflection

Mt. Hooker has long stood as a monument to both triumph and tragedy. For one father and daughter, it became both—a place where love, ambition, and risk converged. Eleven years later, the discovery of their camp offers a glimpse into their final days, a reminder of nature’s unforgiving power, and a testament to the bonds that endure even in the face of loss.

The mountain keeps its secrets, but the story of David and Emily ensures they will never truly vanish.