Ground and air searchers are trying to find two snowmachiners near Kotzebue who have been missing for more than three days, according to Alaska State Troopers.
AST spokesperson Megan Peters says Shallain Adams and Clifford Griest, last listed by troopers as living in Kotzebue and Kiana respectively, left Kotzebue en route to Noorvik on a single snowmachine at about 2 a.m. Tuesday. It's not clear why they were headed there, or why they left at such an early hour of the day.
Adams and Griest were reported missing to troopers at roughly 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, initiating a search that has expanded to include aid from several communities in the region.
"There's ground searchers from Kiana, Noorvik, Kotzebue, Selawik and Buckland," Peters said.
"Weather has been hampering the search, and they have pockets of bad weather moving around them," Peters said.
Alaska National Guard spokesperson Maj. Guy Hayes says the 11th Air Force's Rescue Coordination Center is providing aerial support as conditions in the area permit. An Air National Guard HC-130 Hercules search plane and an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter were sent to the region early Thursday, but weren't able to participate in the search.
"Due to weather in the morning, they had to turn around," Hayes said.
A second HC-130 flight was launched Thursday night and was able to spend some time looking for the snowmachiners, with a third flight scheduled to launch Friday. Hayes says the Guard is primarily using fixed-wing aircraft for the search, but can send in helicopters if necessary.
"If the request comes in, we can provide whatever support is needed," Hayes said.
In addition to the Guard aircraft, Peters says Alaska Wildlife Troopers aircraft are also involved with the effort.
"RCC is continuing to contribute air assets, and they are coordinating with AWT and other local air assets," Peters said.
Peters says she hasn't heard of any signs of Adams or Griest being found during the search, which has been in progress for more than 80 hours. She says no decision has been made to suspend the search, and there have been no calls for separate searches in the state which might draw resources from the Kotzebue effort.
"It's all taken in stride -- each case has its own circumstances surrounding it," Peters said. "We do the best we can with the evidence that we have at hand."
Editor's note: Alaska State Troopers say Adams' and Griest's locations of residence are the latest ones listed for them.
Contact Chris Klint