The Northwest Arctic Borough Public Safety Department, Search and Rescue coordinator is currently working with local Search and Rescue presidents in each village to determine the thickness of the ice before we begin winter trail staking.
As of November 23, 2018 at about 3:30 pm, the following information has been reported back to the Northwest Arctic Borough:
Ambler Search and Rescue reports conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Buckland Search and Rescue reports conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Deering Search and Rescue reports conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kiana Search and Rescue reports the Kiana-Noorvik trail is usable with caution and staking of the trail has not yet been completed. There is a large opening in the river ice in front of Kiana. All other winter trails in the Kiana area, are considered unsafe and travel not advised
Kivalina Search and Rescue reports conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kobuk Search and Rescue conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water. With the exception of the Kobuk-Shungnak overland route.
Noatak Search and Rescue reports conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Noorvik Search and Rescue reports Noorvik-beacon, Noorvik- Selawik and Noorvik-Kiana has been reported as passable with caution trail staking has not yet begun.
We have not received an update from Selawik Search and Rescue. The last report received stated that Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Shungnak Search and Rescue reports conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water, with the exception of the Kobuk-Shungnak overland route.
The most recent report for the Kotzebue area dated Monday the 20th states that conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
It is very important that before you travel inter-village or overland, you are aware that there are areas on the ice that are still not thick enough to carry the weight of a sno-go or four wheeler and there are spots with very wide open water.
As conditions change and trails become available to stake and travel on, we will be updating this public service announcement.
If you have any questions or comments please contact Matthew Sperl, Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue Coordinator at 907 412-2038. Thank you.
——————————————————————————————————————
As of November 20, 2018 at about 3:30 pm, the following information has been reported back to the Northwest Arctic Borough:
Ambler: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Buckland: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Deering: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kiana: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water. Kiana-Noorvik trail is reported as usable with caution and has not yet been staked.
Kivalina: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kobuk: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water. With the exception of the Kobuk-Shungnak overland route.
Noatak: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Noorvik: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water. Noorvik-beacon and Noorvik-Kiana has been reported as passable with caution trail staking has not yet started.
Selawik: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Shungnak: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kotzebue: Conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
It is very important that before you travel inter-village or overland, you are aware that there are areas on the ice that are still not thick enough to carry the weight of a sno-go or four wheeler and there are spots with very wide open water.
As conditions change and trails become available to stake and travel on, we will be updating this public service announcement.
If you have any questions or comments please contact Matthew Sperl, Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue Coordinator at 907 412-2038.
——————————————————————————————————————
As of November 15th, at 2:00pm, the following information has been reported back to the NWAB:
Ambler: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Buckland: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Deering: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kiana: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kivalina: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Kobuk: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water with the exception of the Kobuk to Shungnak overland route.
Noatak: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Noorvik: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Selawik: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
Shungnak: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water with the exception of the Shungnak to Kobuk route.
Kotzebue: conditions are considered unsafe and travel not advised due to thin ice and open water.
It is very important that before you travel inter-village or overland, you are aware that there are spots on the ice that are still not thick enough to carry the weight of a sno-go or fourwheeler and there are spots with very wide open water.
As trails become available to stake and travel on, we will be updating this PSA.
If you have any questions or comments please contact Matt Sperl, Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue Coordinator at 907-412-2038
