It’s another warm winter and another late freeze-up along the Lower Kuskokwim River. With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, Bethel Search and Rescue warns that the river is not safe for travel.
Weak, irregular ice has formed and numerous open holes remain, often stretching from bank to bank. Many tundra lakes also remain open. People going ice fishing or setting nets are advised to walk with an ice pick ahead of them and to check the ice before each step. Also, during freeze up, Bethel Search and Rescue often advises people to wear float coats or life jackets when venturing onto the ice in case they fall in.
