North to the Future

[thør]

Have they found him yet?

nope

 

[thør]

Body recovered

 

[thør]

Body recovered

Post from his uncle:

"Josh, my nephew, passed away late Friday night in Alaska. He was paddle boarding with his girlfriend when he was swept out to the middle of Turnigan Arm. A 911 call was placed at 8:45. For 2 hours he was on the phone with his dad and girlfriend. At times he was able to get off his board and stand on a sandbar. As the tide continued to come in, the current was moving at 15 mph while winds hit 29 mph in the opposite direction. Both conditions made it impossible to paddle the 1.5 miles back to shore. At first there was no real worry, as was communicated the whole time while he talked on a 3- way call with his dad and girlfriend. After a lengthy time, the Girdwood fire department arrived with a boat. It was also communicated that the state trooper helicopter was unable to fly due to exceeded work hours for pilots. The whole time this was going on, people on shore had eyes on him. While back on his board, hyperthermia started to kick in. As the boat got closer, they lost sight of him on shore. The fireman asked via the continued phone call that he stand or raise a hand so they could see him. Weakness from hyperthermia now made that impossible. His voice became soft as he continued to try and talk. The phone then clicked dead as he slipped off his board, leaving the final tag on his dad’s and sister’s phones that were actively tracking him the whole time. The coast guard helicopter arrived at 1:30am and only found his board. Late last night a pilot spotted his body in the low tide and it was recovered that evening. He was a wonderful young man who loved life. He loved Alaska and the adventure it offered. His favorite quote was the freedom speech from Braveheart. I truly believe if asked if he could decide to be an old man dying in his bed but having to have given up the adventures he lived or chosen safety in mediocrity, he would’ve chosen adventure and the joy that came with feasting on life. He loved life, his family, and everything associated with Alaska. We will miss him forever but every beauty we see in nature will remind us of him and the knowledge that he’s close by, smiling and happy."

 

[thør]

Heading up Denali.....

 

[thør]

Post from his uncle

This doesn't make one confident in the local SAR capabilities.

 

[Noor]

This doesn't make one confident in the local SAR capabilities.

Or the availablity of back up pilots

 

[Olderwiserstillhorny]

View attachment 2638232

Dalton Highway, Brooks Range......

Long time since I've seen the brooks range. 1975 first trip up the haul road.