URGENT MISSING PERSON NOTICE – JEFF McGOWAN
Missoula, Montana / Darby Area
The Missoula community is urgently seeking the public’s help in locating Jeff McGowan, an experienced and well-known hiker and climber who has been missing since Sunday. Jeff is a frequent outdoor adventurer and is believed to have set out on a single-day climbing objective west of Darby, Montana.
Jeff did not return home and failed to report for work in Missoula Sunday evening. He also did not attend his scheduled classes Monday morning, prompting immediate concern from family, friends, and colleagues. His phone was last pinged in a wilderness area near Darby, MT, suggesting he may have been climbing or hiking in that region. It is believed he was traveling without skis and intended only a day trip.
Jeff’s vehicle is described as a silver Subaru with Montana license plate MT44635D. Locating his vehicle is considered critical in narrowing down the search area. Authorities urge anyone who may have seen the vehicle parked near trailheads, pullouts, or remote access roads west of Darby to come forward immediately.
Update as of 1:30 PM MST:
Thanks to a tip from the climber community, Jeff’s vehicle has reportedly been identified. Search and Rescue teams are now mobilizing, deploying snowmobiles and coordinating with Two Bear Air for aerial support using helicopters. This is a rapidly developing situation, and officials remain hopeful as search efforts intensify.
The Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone who has interacted with Jeff recently to review his social media activity from the past several days. If you are able to view and record his recent stories or posts, that information may provide valuable clues regarding his intended route or climbing objective.
Jeff is described as an avid and capable outdoorsman who is deeply respected within Montana’s hiking and climbing communities. Friends and family describe him as adventurous, responsible, and passionate about the outdoors. His disappearance has sparked widespread concern across Missoula and beyond.
If you have any information — no matter how small it may seem — please contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at (406) 552-6283. Even minor details could assist search teams in pinpointing Jeff’s location.
Please share this notice widely. Time is critical in wilderness search efforts, and community awareness can make a life-saving difference.
Jeff’s family is asking for continued prayers, support, and vigilance as search operations continue.