At least seven large open holes puncture Kuskokuak Slough between Kwethluk and Akiak. The two nearest to Akiak are now marked.
Through a roaring blizzard Monday and heavy overflow on Tuesday, members of Akiak Search and Rescue staked willows around the two holes, which sit at the upper end of Kuskokuak Slough.
One hole spans from bank to bank and stretches 3,700 feet long, more than two-thirds of a mile. Mark Leary of Bethel Search and Rescue says that the hole is in the same spot where three people were lost to the river in December 2014.
The two holes are marked by willows, but may not have the blue reflective tape that signals open water. The tape costs about $300 per roll and can be expensive. To help, people are encouraged to donate to their local Search and Rescue organization.
Moving to the tundra villages: Bethel Search and Rescue cautions no one to travel the Atmautluak trail, and for those who must, to go with a partner. The organization has received reports that most people taking the trail on four wheelers have gotten stuck. That’s because high water and snow has caused slush and overflow to accumulate in the sloughs and the river.
Bethel Search and Rescue says, “If you don’t have to travel, please don’t.”