Hiker reported missing, 50 below zero!

I made my point about walking on the Haul Road. I doubt if many outsiders even know any of the history of the Haul Road. There are other things too as they don't call them Cheechakos for nothing. If he only endangered himself, I would have no comment but that is just not how it works in Alaska. For now I'm just glad the guy is still alive. If he is back out there it will interesting to see if he ends up as a oriental hood ornament or a Japanese flavored Popsicle.


To the guy who thinks I'm a critic, Sorry if you don't appreciate my Interior Charm, I'm much grouchier in person :D
 
No biggie Bubba. Everybody has their opinon..

Can't be all that bad though, after all, people do live there, don't they?

Can't ya just walk a little off the road when you hear a truck coming? I mean, I walked MILES on the railroad tracks and never got hit by a train.
 
The only things I see that he did wrong was to not leave a note at the campsite about why he was leaving, and HOW he was leaving (if nothing else it'd be in his own self interest in case he needed a rescue on the way out). An dthen not checking in somewhere and letting them know where he left his camp, etc to not have to call a SAR on him.

You can't fault the guy's preps when it's admitted this is the coldest it's been in years. He had the smarts to know when he was over his head. He seems to have tried to stay within his limits. Maybe not smart enough to walk down that road? Dunno, but it seems he knew it'd be over his head to trek the wilds.

As far as the snobbery goes. Anyone can make statements like that. Wonder how long the winter gurus would last in the Everglades in August?
 
Climate
The Everglades is mild and pleasant from December through April, though rare cold fronts may create near freezing conditions. Average temperatures in winter - High 77°F (25°C); Low 53°F (12°C). Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures around 90°F (32°C) and humidity over 90%. Afternoon thunderstorms are common and mosquitoes are abundant. The Atlantic Hurricane Season is June-November. Tropical storms or hurricanes may affect the area. Average Rainfall: 60 inches (152 cm) per year. The rainy season is June through October (mosquito season coincides with the rainy season).
 
Glad this turned out OK in the end.

I have enjoyed reading the "Oh yeah? Well my local wilderness can beat up your local wilderness" posts. Funny stuff.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Here we go again, anybody ready for round three? From the description of his gear, this guy was not even smart enough to pick up a pair of "Bunny Boots" second hand in Fairbanks for 10 bucks. There is all kinds of cheep and warm gear around Fairbanks for anyone that asks. The Surplus shop may be closed because the owner was murdered for Christmas but there is much gear to be had. I'm beginning to think this guy is on a "Suicide Mission" having seen that a few times.




http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jan/06/trekker-returns-road/


Japanese trekker returns to road en route to Prudhoe Bay

By Christopher Eshleman

Published Tuesday, January 6, 2009



FAIRBANKS - A Japanese man apparently trying to reach Prudhoe Bay on foot was allegedly back in Fairbanks this morning and could be headed out — despite frigid temperatures — to pick up where he left off late last month.

Alaska State Troopers had briefly labeled the traveler, 37-year-old Toru Yamaguchi, missing this weekend. State road crews discovered a cart, similar or identical to one he had been dragging behind him, and other supplies stashed near the highway roughly 70 miles north of Fairbanks.

But the manager at the Alaska Motel on South Cushman Street confirmed the hiker, who troopers say briefly detoured to Canada during Christmas and the New Year’s holiday, stayed in Fairbanks on Sunday night and checked out Monday.

State transportation supervisor Ron Petty said he had not checked as of Monday afternoon to see if the cart was still where road workers found it in late December — on state-owned land near a gravel pit.

Efforts to reach Yamaguchi — through the Alaska State Troopers and in person — were unsuccessful during the past two days. He reportedly speaks little or no English.

Fairbanks resident Doug Carlo said he gave Yamaguchi a ride south to the Fairbanks area shortly before Christmas. Carlo said by phone Monday that the traveler told him during the ride he started his trek roughly five years ago in Argentina.

Yamaguchi began preparing last summer for his trek through Alaska, as postal workers in the highway town of Coldfoot said they’ve been storing food supplies that he and family members mailed there months ago.

His trip, however, wound up coinciding with an extreme cold snap. Temperatures in Fairbanks have hovered around minus 40 or minus 50 degrees for more than a week, and the Dalton Highway at

Atigun Pass was experiencing high winds and only limited visibility, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

Carlo, an electrician who said he was on his way back from picking up a snowmachine near the Yukon Bridge, said he was surprised at what seemed to be a lack of preparedness on the hiker’s part — hiking boots but no overalls. He said he grew upset at the thought that rescue workers could wind up searching for the man if he tried again.

“To me, he wasn’t prepared. I don’t even think he knew what (the weather) was like up past the Brooks Range,” Carlo said.

Trooper Sgt. Brian Wassmann acknowledged that troopers could wind up searching for Yamaguchi again if they believe he’s injured or missing. State law also gives public safety officials the power to detain people who appear to jeopardize the safety of themselves or others, but Wassmann indicated during the weekend that that rule might not apply to Yamaguchi.
 
Mentor said:
Glad this turned out OK in the end.

I have enjoyed reading the "Oh yeah? Well my local wilderness can beat up your local wilderness"
Click to expand...

Wilderness?? I'm a relative city slicker. We had three serious brown bear maulings within city limits last summer. The wilderness is relatively safe by comparison, as the wildlife has apparently figured out it's easy livin' in the city. All you need to make it through the wilderness is an intelligent plan.
 
Bubbanumber1 said:
Here we go again, anybody ready for round three? From the description of his gear, this guy was not even smart enough to pick up a pair of "Bunny Boots" second hand in Fairbanks for 10 bucks. There is all kinds of cheep and warm gear around Fairbanks for anyone that asks. The Surplus shop may be closed because the owner was murdered for Christmas but there is much gear to be had. I'm beginning to think this guy is on a "Suicide Mission" having seen that a few times.
Click to expand...


No Bubbanumber1, no one here is ready for round three. That is because we passed round three just after post #38.

"Bunny Boots" for ten bucks from surplus is a good idea for a 400 mile hike. I disagree, those would be a dumb choice.

Based on what I have read, Mr. Yamaguchi has a pretty good handle on footwear for hiking, certainly more than maybe a handful (5) of us on this forum and certainly more than you do. He probably left the trail and went back for his Steger's and his Everest gear.

He's on a "Mission" for sure! I'm adding myself to the group that believes he will succeed and think his adventure is both epic and heroic not suicidal.

But hey, seriously Bubbanumber#1, if you're close by, why not hop in a vehicle and take a ride to see how he's doing. Folks up there are calling him by his first name. They report seeing him all the time pulling his cart with the orange triangle on the back. He shouldn't be hard to find since he's following the highway.......
 
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H2H907 said:
Wilderness?? I'm a relative city slicker. We had three serious brown bear maulings within city limits last summer. The wilderness is relatively safe by comparison, as the wildlife has apparently figured out it's easy livin' in the city. All you need to make it through the wilderness is an intelligent plan.
Click to expand...

Ok, I know you Alaskan folks are rough and tough but you have to stop mauling those bears.......:D
 
I have to say this leads me to believe he knows what he is doing, despite what a local electrician had to say about things!
 
PrimitiveMan said:
Big deal, I live in New Jersey. If you can live here, you can survive anywhere.
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I don't know about that; but if you can navigate the highways and parkways in Jersey with out getting lost, you can navigate anywhere! ;)
 
H2H907 said:
:eek: Well that's a HORRIBLE gift!
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You heard of Blondie's? The owner was murdered by two guys from Wainwright and one guy who was apparently kicked out of the Army. The owner was a nice guy, everybody liked him, rumor has it these guys stole some Army stuff, sold it to him, CID was investigating, they murdered him and killed the only witness. Like I said, nice guy, helped many folks, had good advice for cheechakos on how to stay alive, RIP.


As for round three, I wrote that because this was the third news article about the guy. I wish him well but will not be surprised if this goes all wrong. In reference to the "Electrician" I would say, He sounds like he knows what he is talking about.
 
You guys get more than your share of dirtbags from Wainwright, that's for sure. Dunno why it's not quite the same down here; maybe because the criminals tend to beat the soldiers to the punch? Then again, maybe it's just that Fairbanks weirdness.
 
H2H907 said:
You guys get more than your share of dirtbags from Wainwright, that's for sure. Dunno why it's not quite the same down here; maybe because the criminals tend to beat the soldiers to the punch? Then again, maybe it's just that Fairbanks weirdness.
Click to expand...


Fairbanks can be Bizarre to say the least. I don't blame Wainwright in the least but many folks have it in for the base and the soldiers. If they do anything it makes the headlines, starts the bitching all over again. This last incident was just a bad deal, these guys are a total waste.
 
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