Alaska News

Overdue snowmachiner found lost and cold near Hooper Bay

A 27-year-old Hooper Bay snowmachiner reportedly unprepared for winter weather and overdue on Saturday triggered a brief search before he was found, Alaska State Troopers said.

Gustan Green was in good condition but with "exposure-type" injuries near the Western Alaska village, troopers said in an online dispatch. He was reported overdue and not properly dressed for the conditions somewhere between Hooper Bay and Chevak at 9:38 a.m. Saturday, troopers said. Green had last been heard from a little more than two hours earlier.

He called a friend on his cell phone and told them his snowmachine had broken down but he didn't know where he was, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. Green then tried to walk out but he was dressed for short trips around town and not for staying out in the weather, Peters said.

The friend called Hooper Bay police, and police called troopers.

Two teams conducted a hasty ground search between Hooper Bay, Chevak and Scammon Bay, troopers said.

Green was found at 11:15 a.m. walking near the bluffs out of Hooper Bay, about three miles from his snowmachine and two miles off the trail. He was taken to the clinic in Hooper Bay to be checked out.

Reach Zaz Hollander at zhollander@adn.com or 257-4317.

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By ZAZ HOLLANDER

zhollander@adn.com

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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