Alaska Air National Guardsmen launched a rescue mission for some stranded rafters in the Kichatna River. The team from the 176th Wing flew a helicopter 100 miles northwest of Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, after being called by Alaska State Troopers. A group of rafters had capsized in the river and were quickly becoming hypothermic. The rescue team cut through the windy, overcast skies to pull them to safety. Rafters were able to call for help using an SOS button on their satellite communication device.
The Alaska Department of Transportation is working to fix two washouts on Alaska roadways. The first in Anchor Point has forced the closure of Whiskey Gulch Road and the beach access through the weekend. The second washout impacts the northbound shoulder of the Sterling Highway, just before the old Sterling intersection. Crews are working now to fix both storm-related issues.
In Anchorage, multiple trails are now closed due to bears. Rover’s Run, Salmon Run, and the BLM Campbell Tract are all closed. A section of Viewpoint Trail in Far North Bicentennial Park is also closed. Silver salmon are leading the bears to fish along Campbell Creek, so state officials want to limit human-bear encounters during the feeding period…