Author Archives: Perry Barr

12-21-2014 Before the day started, members of BSAR paid their respects to members of the Demantle family in Akiak before the funeral which began at two in the afternoon. Hopes and prayers were left with the family, hope to find comfort and peace soon before the Christmas holidays.

A quiet day on the Kuskokwak disclosed no new developments in the search for two missing persons. The weather did cooperate though with temperatures hovering about 8 degrees with nary a wind. The boat was launched, drag lines set under the ice and rope pulled over and over until the whole river-bottom was combed over in an area that was not previously searched. 

At the end of the day when everyone gathered for the nightly debriefing near the tents, we all sat around the fire and thought of the day’s efforts. Thoughts of where else can they try? What did they miss? Where else can they go? All the while watching “Eskimo TV” in the fire. While the warmth of the fire provided some relief to the stress of the day’s labors, we hoped individually for the discovery of the two that are still missing. The debrief ended by reciting  the Lord’s Prayer and a commitment to try again the next day.

The plan for 12-22-2014 is to make the trenches longer at the rear of the of the site. Building new trenches, creating new holes in the ice with augers and sweeping a larger area… and using the cameras to hopefully find more clues. Again VPSO Sgt. Daniel “Max” Olick and BSAR are extremely  thankful for all the assistance from Akiak, Kwethluk, Akiachak, Atmautluak, Bethel, Napaskiak,  and Napakiak and all others we may have not mentioned. We still are asking for more volunteers to assist and food to feed them all.    Thank You

All photos courtesy from Earl Samuelson who assisted in the search.

On 12-21-2014 BSAR assisted in the successful search for Adrian Hoffman. Hoffman was reported to have left Kasigluk alone en route to Tununak on Saturday the 20th,  driving alone on a black 800 Polaris at about 6:30 pm.  And was discovered to be overdue by a member of BSAR after learning of it on Facebook on Sunday morning.

The BSAR member and employee of Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife saw information on Facebook from Hoffman’s family that they were concerned about his whereabouts.

A search was initiated today with three aircraft, two of U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s airplanes, a 206 Cessna and a Super-cub. They were also joined by an Alaska State Trooper Super-cub based out of Bethel. All three in coordination followed his snowmachine tracks from Kasigluk to a large lake nearby Baird Inlet.

After the lengthy extensive search with aircraft, Hoffman was found on a large lake in good health but otherwise tired, about 11 miles southeast of Nightmute walking at about 1:26 this afternoon. The AST Super-cub landed, picked Hoffman up and brought him an area where the 206 was able to land on the snow mobile trail which he was transferred to. Hoffman had walked about two miles from his snow mobile after he had experienced engine problems. He was brought to Tununak, his original destination where he was met by his family.

Some areas near Baird Inlet are dangerous to be traveling by snow machine in as there are creeks where the water is flowing despite the colder temperatures. Also be aware of thin ice in the same areas. As a reminder, please file a trip plan with family with when you are expected to arrive at your destination and to take with you a signaling device, like flares or a mirror.

Thanks to U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Alaska State Troopers for their efforts in returning Hoffman safely back home.

All photographs courtesy of BSAR member, Mano Rogers.

The seventh day provided no real definitive results. The area nearby where the four wheeler was found, a piece of red fabric was hooked with the drag bars. And the search continues with many people getting tired and cold. Temperatures today hovered about 10 degrees with a 20-25 north wind so the ice formed quickly hampering progress.

Overview of the site where so much has been done….tireless efforts of so many.

Tomorrow, plans are to drag the bottom of the ice with drag bars that may float underneath the ice. Some believe that more clues will  be found there.  VPSO Sgt. Daniel “Max” Olick is asking for more assistance from people to show up at the site and more food to feed the many that volunteer their efforts.

Photos courtesy of Earl Samuelson, Alaska State Trooper Pilot.

The funeral for Demantle is set for Sunday in Akiak, so many of our members will be attending, paying our respects to the family, sharing in the grief of their loss. Also praying for the family and for swift recovery of those that are still missing so that we all could assist in helping provide closure.

A somber cold day with the wind biting at the volunteers provided no real developments except a sighting or two of debris belonging to the three who fell into the river. Excitement provided the warmth with the views seen with the camera underneath the ice and made possibilities seem much closer.

After seven days, determination is seen in the faces, regardless of fatigue and a strong desire to bring a friend and or someone they knew home. Jokes are told about an old relationship, jokes they played on someone in the “Magii” or steam bath, “burning” someone out where they had to leave outside, or a prank they played on someone when they were kids. Stories of places they’ve been to, moose or caribou they’ve caught and talk about children and families. Speaking more of life while providing the manual labor they endure to cut and move all the encroaching thickening ice and slush or pulling on the ropes which attached to the drag bars drug across the riverbed.

A couple ladies arrived early afternoon with a variety of sandwiches and Shasta pop which the volunteers easily ate and drank during a short break. The coffee pot in the tent was also constantly brewing coffee providing some relief from the cold. All donations of food, waterproof gloves, drinks and other items which may help in the search are always appreciated.

The plan for Saturday is to cut longer trenches, cut more holes with the auger, and use the boat again. A 12 foot pole with attached treble hooks was almost finished today at the search site, but will be ready for tomorrow mornings use. The pole will be used to comb a larger area of the riverbed instead of the 3-4 foot drag bars previously used.

The weather is expected to get colder the next few days, so if you are traveling between communities on the river, please dress warmer and protect those areas exposed to the cold. And if you are traveling to assist in the search, be aware of the cut areas in the ice where thin ice has formed. And check in with VPSO Sgt. Olick or BSAR – Mike Riley.

12-18-2014 The search ended today with no new developments but everyone left the site still with lots of hope and faith that the missing persons will be found soon. Again there were about 60 volunteers from different communities that were split into search groups with specific assignments. Some were assigned to use the drag bars, others assigned to poling and using the cameras.

There were moments of possible clues found under the ice using the bent conduit pipe with attached treble hooks method, gaffs, drag hooks, underwater cameras and today utilizing a metal detector. Akiak SAR had lengthened the reach of the detector by first lengthening the original wiring between the sensor and the control mechanism. Then placing the extended wiring into a 12 foot conduit pipe and attaching the sensor to the opposite end. Thereby creating a 12 metal detector which can be inserted into open holes in the ice and searching underneath. Which helped in finding new clues as to possible locations. Necessity, definitely creates improvement of known technologies!

Over a ton of ice and slush removed using manual labor

The ice and slush removed from on top came from the trenches and auger holes and was proving very dangerous as the weight was creating stress on the thin ice.

Badminton anyone? A racket used to sweep the slush out of the water which proved very effective.

A portion of the crew as seen from base camp.

Base Camp! Where anyone can get dried smoked Salmon, Caribou soup, homemade fry bread, a sandwich and a great cup of hot Coffee.

The plan for 12-19-2014 involves similar strategies for the day…dragging, poling, observing and most importantly of all, prayers for a successful recovery. As a reminder to all volunteers, please sign in upon arrival at the site with either VPSO Sgt. Max Olick or BSAR -Norman Japhet. Thank you for all your support during this search.

No new developments today……

About forty SAR members from different communities again converged upon the search site working 8-10 hours every day. Most members are volunteering their effort, transportation and taking personal time away from their jobs and families.

The weather has been in the mid 20’s with partly cloudy skies, making conditions perfect at the site. Although the lake has been freezing and slowly getting smaller. The lake has gained about 20 feet along the edge since the beginning of the search, creating dangerous thin ice conditions. The boat brought from Bethel by BSAR was used minimally as problems with the outboard hampered efforts. Hopefully the motor will be running tomorrow after it is thawed and serviced. The boat when up and running will be used to pull a drag bar with attached treble hooks along the river bottom near the edge of the open water. Meanwhile a crew on the ice will be pulling on a rope attached to the same drag bar from a trench cut into the ice.

Today searchers were getting wet having to use waterproof foot gear including bunny boots and rubber gloves when dragging and poling.

Underwater camera used by BSAR. As the camera is lowered into the hole in the ice, searchers view the screen and watch as layers of ice and slush slip past. After checking immediately under the ice, the camera is lowered about 26 feet to the bottom where a view of the riverbed is checked.

The 7 inch LCD displays in black and white and is split into four separate views as the camera has four separate lenses. The camera apparatus has small LED lights illuminating an area about 3-4 feet in diameter immediately above the lens.

The views are dependent upon lighting and the amount of debris in the water. We are hoping for brighter underwater lighting in the future along with color displays.

For 12-18-14, the search will continue with volunteers coming from nearby communities. As previously requested, VPSO Sgt. Max Olick with Kwethluk SAR is asking for donations, including food to assist in the search.