Search and Rescue volunteers have found both travelers who were overdue on a 90 mile snowmachining trip from Kasigluk to Toksook Bay. The two men had been missing since Sunday night.
Bethel Search and Rescue has confirmed that the man found on Wednesday morning is in good health and that the other man, found Wednesday afternoon five miles outside Nightmute on Nelson Island, is being checked out by health officials. He was reported to be cold, hungry, and exhausted.
An aerial search, along with ground volunteer search and rescue teams, launched from Nightmute, Toksook Bay, Kasigluk, and Bethel on Tuesday.
Twitchell stresses the importance of filling a Trip Plan on the State of Alaska Trooper website.
"It helps the search and rescue groups gather information," said Twitchell, "and speed up the efforts in finding those people that we’re searching for.
A trip plan can narrow down and increase the likelihood of success in a search. This search was successful anyway.
Correction: KYUK initially reported the incorrect number of volunteers from Kasigluk Search and Rescue. Wilson Twitchell with Kasigluk Search and Rescue dispatched 4 volunteers the first day, and 5 volunteers the second day of the search.