Barry Joel Tragen, a 68-year-old man from Columbia Falls, Montana, was last seen on July 22, 2020. His vehicle was discovered on that same day near Kintla Lake in the Polebridge area, located in the northwestern section of Glacier National Park. A search for Mr. Tragen was initiated by park rangers on July 25, after he failed to return to his vehicle. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing approximately 220 pounds, with gray hair and hazel eyes.
The search for Mr. Tragen involved multiple agencies, including Glacier National Park officials, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, Flathead County Search and Rescue, and canine teams. Despite extensive efforts which included ground teams, aerial searches, and watercraft, the search yielded few clues. On August 4, a pair of sunglasses believed to belong to Mr. Tragen were found in Kintla Creek.
This discovery led to a more focused search in that area, with search dogs showing interest near the outlet of Kintla Lake. An underwater, remote-operated vehicle was used to search the lake, but no further evidence was found.
By August 10, 2020, with no new leads, the active search for Barry Tragen was scaled back and transitioned to a "limited continuous status." This means that while the case remains open and he is still considered a missing person, active field searching has been reduced. Authorities remain hopeful that new information will come to light. The Flathead County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate his disappearance. Anyone with information regarding Mr. Tragen's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the park's tip line.Last Seen: Jul 22, 2020
