Walter Hawk, 43, remains missing after walking away from his home in the village of Tuluksak almost a full month ago.
Tuluksak Search and Rescue last spotted the man over the weekend, about 10 miles upriver from the village. Search and Rescue member Nelson Napoka says that when Hawk saw the boat and heard the group shouting his name, he ran away.
Search and Rescue has seen Hawk several times since he left town, but each time he’s disappeared before they could reach him. Napoka says that the searchers tie food in the trees at each place they spot the elusive man, last time leaving dry fish, spam, crackers, and juice.
Nastasia Hawk, Walter's sister, says this stretch is the longest that her brother has been missing. She says he often tries to walk to Anchorage, but he’s always come home within four days. As of Wednesday he’s been gone for 28 days.
Napoka says that when the search team last spotted Hawk he was wearing the same blue sweater he’d left town in, and though he looked dirty, he did not appear sick or injured. Napoka notes that for now there are plenty of berries and greens on the tundra for Hawk to eat.
Search and Rescue goes out looking for the missing man every few days.
