Missing AK - Thomas Aki Pungalik Brown and Josiah Ballot missing on snowmobiles near Kotzebue; Jan 2023

[Cabin Fever]

There's folks who disappear into the wilderness while they're recreating, and folks who disappear while doing what it takes to survive. There are many folks like that in AK. They are also difficult to find, because of harsh conditions, and unfriendly terrain.

Two young people have gone missing on snowmobiles. One has now been found. Let's not forget them.

1 young man found suffering frostbite, 1 still missing as Northwest Alaska search continues

Josiah Ballot and Thomas Aki Pungalik Brown, both 18, went missing early Monday as they traveled by snowmachine between Kotzebue and Noorvik, Alaska State Troopers said. Ballot was found with severe frostbite Friday afternoon.

www.adn.com

 

[Calico Jeans]

4 1/2 days later, and JB was found. That's extraordinary.

I feel embarrassed by how little I know about AK. I'm getting started with visuals.

Photo of Kotzebue; Public Domain



Map of Kotzebue Sound; Public Domain... It's in the Northwest Arctic Borough

 

[I Am A Rock]

I can't find any updates for TB. This is terrible. I still can't believe JB survived all that time, and only has frostbite. Maybe he'll be able to say what happened to his pal.

Something that really interests me in AK: how they do Search and Rescue. There's a lead-off from trained local SAR, but then the whole community seems to get involved. They have people go up in private planes to do a lot of the searching. We also learned in the Steve Keel case that the boroughs distribute PLB's out in the communities, and keep them updated. I guess the boys didn't have one with them, but I still think it's fantastic.

 

[Chill]

These poor kids. It sounds like they were just having a life. Not a recreational outing, just living in AK.

I wonder if the snowmobile broke down?

 

[Rainforest]

I’m super-annoyed at how disproportionate the attention is between missing hikers in CA and two missing local teens in AK. It seems like it’s always this way. And then if a guy from TN on a trophy hunt goes missing in AK, the media is all over that, too.

 

[Chill]

Unfortunately, the second teen—Thomas Aki Pungalik Brown—has been found dead. He was found nearer Kotzebue, 10+ miles from where JB was found. No reason given.

Article HERE

 

[Breaking Trail]

It seems the two teens were discovered actually 18 miles from each other, and JB was 8 miles from his snowmobile which was on sea ice?

I suppose something happened to the sled, and the two went walking towards Kotzebue? What a terrible, terrifying, experience.

Missing teen found dead in Northwest Alaska after weeklong search

The other missing snowmachiner, also 18, was found Friday and was flown to Anchorage for medical treatment.

www.adn.com

 

[Springer]

How just, totally, sad.