Kuskokwim River

The boy, 15-year-old Cole Gilila, was riding with another boy on a snowmachine on the Kuskokwim River around 8 miles above Kalskag when it went through the ice on Jan. 4, according to Alaska State Troopers. The other boy got out of the river and was taken to Kalskag.

With a patchwork of reliable trails, plenty of danger zones, and establishment of an official Kuskokwim Ice Road still pending, choosing to travel comes down to experience.

The early truck trails are not part of the Kuskokwim ice road, which will be built later in the season. The trails are open between Bethel downriver to Napaskiak, Napakiak, and upriver to Kwethluk.

The body of 32-year-old Adrian “Aya” Andrew, who was originally from Kwigillingok, was discovered by a small group of searchers on Nov. 24 under the ice in the area where travelers frequently cross the river between Napaskiak and Oscarville.

The significant hazards posed by the river condition led Bethel Search and Rescue (BSAR) to make their 2024 Kuskokwim River Aerial Survey theme “Danger Close.”

On Sept. 13, troopers say 35-year-old Alex Chaney used his own boat to sink another boat a short distance from Bethel, sending two passengers into the water without life preservers.

Widespread rain and gale force winds are expected for Southwest Alaska through the weekend.

Troopers have identified the victims of the late July incident as 31-year-old Robert Lott of Akiak and 28-year-old David Alexie Jr. of Tuluksak.

Troopers say they received notification of the human remains on the afternoon of Sept. 3, but that they were unable to make a positive identification.

A Kongiganak tribal administrator said “it seemed like we were in the ocean looking around our village during the flood,” referring to the second and most powerful of three storms to rock the region.