The search for a Huslia snowmachiner missing since Monday has focused on the Koyukuk River after the tracks of his snowmachine apparently led into its waters, Alaska State Troopers say.
Alvin W. Dayton, 64, was first reported missing to troopers in Galena at about 4 p.m. Monday, according to a dispatch issued late Wednesday. Dayton left the village of about 340 people, roughly 290 miles west of Fairbanks, earlier in the day riding a snowmachine towing a sled to gather wood.
When Dayton's return became overdue, locals grew concerned and conducted a hasty search.
"Community members found snowmachine tracks (that) led to a large hole in the ice in the Koyukuk River," troopers wrote. "Searchers recovered what is believed to be the sled that Dayton was towing with the snowmachine."
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said Thursday that troopers, as well as a village public safety officer, responded to the scene after the hasty search Monday found the hole in the ice. She said troopers had informed Dayton's family before releasing information on the search.
"We didn't post (the dispatch) until we were sure that next of kin were notified," Peters said. "The family's aware of the situation and the possibility that he's in the river."