Missing Hunter, David White, found deceased alongside Jacksina Creek

According to the National Park Service,

Copper Center, AK – On August 21, 2021, the body of missing hunter, David White, was found alongside Jacksina Creek in the northern part of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. 

On August 12th, 40-year-old David White from North Pole, AK stopped regular communication by InReach during a hunting trip in the Jacksina/Canyon Creek area near the end of the Nabesna Road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve. His last InReach message indicated he was about to cross Jacksina Creek to access a hunting area across the valley.

On the evening of August 16th, National Park Service (NPS) Rangers were notified by his point-of-contact that he had stopped checking in. Starting August 17th, NPS search teams and Alaska Wildlife Troopers scanned the area daily. By August 20th, White was officially overdue; helicopters and fixed wing aircraft continued searching from the air while ground teams walked and packrafted the area looking for signs of the hunter. 

At approximately 2:30p on August 21st, packrafting search team personnel found the deceased alongside Jacksina Creek. Based on evidence found by searchers, it appears that White attempted to cross Jacksina Creek and was swept away by the current. The body was recovered and transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office.

The NPS reminds hunters and visitors to be prepared for difficult river and creek crossings that can be extremely dangerous, even for experienced backcountry users.

Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Email
Telegram

Social Media Comments

Not on Facebook but want to comment? Click here.

Leave a comment on both Facebook and Missing NPF by clicking here.

  • No comments yet.
  • Add a comment
    Missing NPF Administration

    Missing NPF Administration

    Missing NPF is Missing in U.S. National Parks and Forests, and is not a federal or law enforcement agency. This website - and it’s associated social media profiles - are privately-organized and funded, based in Washington State, United States of America.

    About Missing NPF

    There is currently no centralized database for those who have gone missing in National Parks and/or Forests at the federal level.

    We have established this listing in an effort to provide a holistic measure of assistance, both to inform future search efforts and to establish an assistive resource for those who are currently living with the loss of a loved one. 

    Missing NPF supports the call for federal agencies to establish, maintain, and share a full listing of those missing in U.S. National Parks and Forests. Meanwhile, we have established our own, and seek your collaboration in providing a meaningfully-detailed source by which to expand public knowledge, identify trends, and empower future search efforts. Join us on this mission.