Alaska State Troopers are asking the public for help finding a Napaskiak man who hasn't been seen for five days, after he planned to cross ice on foot to a nearby village.
A Friday AST dispatch says 31-year-old Joseph Evan was last seen Sunday near the lower end of Sunshine Slough, walking on Kuskokwim River ice. According to a village public safety officer, Evan had said he planned to walk to fish camps at Tuntutuliak.
Bethel troopers were notified that Evan was missing Wednesday, prompting the launch of a search effort for him.
"The Troopers deployed an aircraft to search the area, but no signs of Joshua were visible," troopers wrote. "Addition searching on May 30, 2013, by boat and aircraft ahead of the ice flow did not provide any additional clues in the search."
AST spokesperson Megan Peters says that while boats are slated to search the river once ice flows have passed the area, Evan might have made it to land.
"Hopefully he's holed up in a cabin somewhere," Peters said. "It's not uncommon for people to change their plans when they go out -- hopefully that's the case."
Anyone with information on Evan's whereabouts should call Bethel troopers at 907-543-2294.
Contact Chris Klint