AK AK - Steve Keel, 61, missing from hunting trip, from TN - Aug 27, 2022

[Armchair63]

$15,000 reward offered in search for missing Dover man, Steve Keel, one month after disappearance in Alaska

A $15,000 reward is now being offered to spark new motivation in the search for Steve Keel one month after he disappeared in a remote part of Alaska.

www.wkrn.com

Deadhorse Airport August 27 Weather, Average Temperature (Alaska, United States) - Weather Spark

On August 27, the temperature at Deadhorse Airport typically ranges from 37°F to 44°F and is rarely below 30°F or above 56°F.

weatherspark.com

IMO I believe that he became disoriented and started off in the wrong direction not knowing the terrain and walked on to a small body of water that had not thawed and fell through the ice .

August 27 Weather at Deadhorse Airport Alaska, United States​

On August 27, the temperature at Deadhorse Airport typically ranges from 37°F to 44°F and is rarely below 30°F or above 56°F.

For reference, on July 28, the hottest day of the year, temperatures at Deadhorse Airport typically range from 41°Fto 56°F, while on February 9, the coldest day of the year, they range from -22°F to -9°F.

The coolest time of the day is from 11:30 PM to 9:00 AM, with the coldest at 5:45 AM, at which time the temperature is below 40°F three days out of four, and below 45°F nine days out of ten.

The warmest time of the day is from 1:00 PM to 6:45 PM, with the hottest at 3:30 PM, at which time the temperature is above 38°F three days out of four, and above 35°F nine days out of ten.

The day has gained half its heat by 10:45 AM and lost it again by 8:45 PM.

 

[WingsOverTX]

$15,000 reward offered in search for missing Dover man, Steve Keel, one month after disappearance in Alaska

A $15,000 reward is now being offered to spark new motivation in the search for Steve Keel one month after he disappeared in a remote part of Alaska.

www.wkrn.com

Deadhorse Airport August 27 Weather, Average Temperature (Alaska, United States) - Weather Spark

On August 27, the temperature at Deadhorse Airport typically ranges from 37°F to 44°F and is rarely below 30°F or above 56°F.

weatherspark.com

IMO I believe that he became disoriented and started off in the wrong direction not knowing the terrain and walked on to a small body of water that had not thawed and fell through the ice .

August 27 Weather at Deadhorse Airport Alaska, United States​

On August 27, the temperature at Deadhorse Airport typically ranges from 37°F to 44°F and is rarely below 30°F or above 56°F.

For reference, on July 28, the hottest day of the year, temperatures at Deadhorse Airport typically range from 41°Fto 56°F, while on February 9, the coldest day of the year, they range from -22°F to -9°F.

The coolest time of the day is from 11:30 PM to 9:00 AM, with the coldest at 5:45 AM, at which time the temperature is below 40°F three days out of four, and below 45°F nine days out of ten.

The warmest time of the day is from 1:00 PM to 6:45 PM, with the hottest at 3:30 PM, at which time the temperature is above 38°F three days out of four, and above 35°F nine days out of ten.

The day has gained half its heat by 10:45 AM and lost it again by 8:45 PM.

Very informative! I like cold but Brrrr!

 

[5W's]

If it was damp in Steve's tent then I am assuming he was weak already. But how did he make it through until he disappeared. The pack with the caribou meat I can see how he may not have made it to it with how he may have been feeling as in exhausted, perhaps. But he shouldn't be far then. Maybe in the dark he fell into a muskeg? But then if he was walking in the dark it would further exhaust him. It was daytime when he left the main camp. So IMO he can't be far. In the general vicinity. I'm sure they have used cadaver dogs, but I remember also that it wasn't safe for the dogs either so maybe not. IDK why it wouldn't be safe for the dogs. I wish I knew.

 

[RickshawFan]

Bluetooth range is about 30ft - so yes, for a nighttime bathroom break maybe it could be useful, I don't see how it would have helped with SK re-locating his cache. I think a GPS marker and then bringing a GPS with him on a return trip would have been a lot more useful than a bluetooth device.

If SK had an Apple Tag on him, searchers would only have had to get within 30 ft of him to find him, instead of right on top of him. Then, a grid search would have been very effective.

 

[RickshawFan]

According to the wanted poster, SK was 5'7" and weighed 200 pounds. That would give me some concern on a highly active, difficult, backcountry venture with a very heavy load... The risk of physical failure was very substantial.

 

[Armchair63]

RECCO - Be Searchable

RECCO® Technology makes you searchable by rescue professionals worldwide.

recco.com

There’s nothing you can say to thank them from the bottom of your heart because you’re just so amazed at their humanity, their kindness, reaching out there to people they don’t even know and searching frantically for this person they don’t know, but they want to know,” Liz said.

She hopes they will find her husband soon. In the meantime, Liz requested the North Slope Search and Rescue deploy their RECCO device, which is placed on a helicopter and can ping a cell phone’s circuit board, even if the cell phone battery is dead.

Kidnapping scam evolves

Scammer tricks caller ID, uses background screaming noises.

www.wkrn.com

It appears that the search for Steve keel is wrapping up with no success. The team from Dover will be leaving heading to anchorage
Some of the locals will continue with there
efforts

DOVER, Tenn. (WSMV) - Group officials for the search for missing Dover man Steve Keel announced Saturday that they have decided not to send another team to Deadhorse, Alaska, for a ground search.

Tennessee man missing in Alaskan wilderness during hunting trip​

As weather conditions have worsened and the search area continues to expand, group leaders said they don’t think it would make sense to risk anyone’s life searching for Steve. Chris Dowdy, the man leading the search effort, said they are working to fund helicopters for more aerial searching in a broader area.

On

 

[5W's]

I wonder if the cadaver dogs weren't used because their paws might get hurt with the foilage on the ground? If Steve happened to fall into a muskeg what other methods could be used to see if he is in one of them?

 

[WingsOverTX]

RECCO - Be Searchable

RECCO® Technology makes you searchable by rescue professionals worldwide.

recco.com

There’s nothing you can say to thank them from the bottom of your heart because you’re just so amazed at their humanity, their kindness, reaching out there to people they don’t even know and searching frantically for this person they don’t know, but they want to know,” Liz said.

She hopes they will find her husband soon. In the meantime, Liz requested the North Slope Search and Rescue deploy their RECCO device, which is placed on a helicopter and can ping a cell phone’s circuit board, even if the cell phone battery is dead.

Kidnapping scam evolves

Scammer tricks caller ID, uses background screaming noises.

www.wkrn.com

It appears that the search for Steve keel is wrapping up with no success. The team from Dover will be leaving heading to anchorage
Some of the locals will continue with there
efforts

DOVER, Tenn. (WSMV) - Group officials for the search for missing Dover man Steve Keel announced Saturday that they have decided not to send another team to Deadhorse, Alaska, for a ground search.

Tennessee man missing in Alaskan wilderness during hunting trip​

As weather conditions have worsened and the search area continues to expand, group leaders said they don’t think it would make sense to risk anyone’s life searching for Steve. Chris Dowdy, the man leading the search effort, said they are working to fund helicopters for more aerial searching in a broader area.

On

I do not think RECCO will be deployed because the chances of success are so low, as I have posted in the thread before. ASAIK, SK had no actual RECCO tech on him like skiers wear.

RECCO - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

The signal from the detector can also weakly be reflected from other electronic devices, such as cameras and cell phones, as well as metallic objects. However, even if this effect has allowed the rescue of several buried people who were not carrying a reflector, the search range of those other devices is much shorter and not reliable enough.

BBM
JMO - The North Slope Borough will never approve such a search. And an independent pilot is unlikely to help either.

This missing person incident is a case study in the harsh realities of the Arctic. The minute the odds are not in your favor - for whatever reason (weather, human error, accident, going alone) - you are at high risk of never leaving.

 

[WingsOverTX]

Kidnapping scam evolves

Scammer tricks caller ID, uses background screaming noises.

www.wkrn.com

RSBM
Could you clarify why you posted this link. Are you suggesting SK was kidnapped or what?
Thanks!

 

[5W's]

I do not think RECCO will be deployed because the chances of success are so low, as I have posted in the thread before. ASAIK, SK had no actual RECCO tech on him like skiers wear.

RECCO - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

The signal from the detector can also weakly be reflected from other electronic devices, such as cameras and cell phones, as well as metallic objects. However, even if this effect has allowed the rescue of several buried people who were not carrying a reflector, the search range of those other devices is much shorter and not reliable enough.

BBM
JMO - The North Slope Borough will never approve such a search. And his family is very unlikely to find anyone else who will.

Its the circuit board of the phone. Not clothing. Metal maybe his gun. I think its great but the hit would have to be mapped so that a search could be safely done. Maybe they have never used this technology, it is new afterall. If something is new and has worked then it should be used. If the old methods are not working then anything. If what everyone is saying about the lack of his survivability is true then he should be nearby. There is no way he could have gone far in his condition. As his tent was damp as mentioned by Chet.

 

[WingsOverTX]

According to the wanted poster, SK was 5'7" and weighed 200 pounds. That would give me some concern on a highly active, difficult, backcountry venture with a very heavy load... The risk of physical failure was very substantial.

Fitness might have been compromised by health conditions unrelated to weight & height. JMO

Fitness does not always depend on "the numbers" although are likely to be a factor in this case because the very heavy meat haul turned out to be a significant risk for SK.

Sure wish BC would weigh in but I would guess he is wanting this all to go away. As you recently well-documented here, BC could be looking at fines/liability, so laying low is likely to remain his choice of response. Nobody else was there so it's too bad we are unlikely to get his perspective.

My opinions only

 

[RickshawFan]

RECCO - Be Searchable

RECCO® Technology makes you searchable by rescue professionals worldwide.

recco.com

There’s nothing you can say to thank them from the bottom of your heart because you’re just so amazed at their humanity, their kindness, reaching out there to people they don’t even know and searching frantically for this person they don’t know, but they want to know,” Liz said.

She hopes they will find her husband soon. In the meantime, Liz requested the North Slope Search and Rescue deploy their RECCO device, which is placed on a helicopter and can ping a cell phone’s circuit board, even if the cell phone battery is dead.

Kidnapping scam evolves

Scammer tricks caller ID, uses background screaming noises.

www.wkrn.com

It appears that the search for Steve keel is wrapping up with no success. The team from Dover will be leaving heading to anchorage
Some of the locals will continue with there
efforts

DOVER, Tenn. (WSMV) - Group officials for the search for missing Dover man Steve Keel announced Saturday that they have decided not to send another team to Deadhorse, Alaska, for a ground search.

Tennessee man missing in Alaskan wilderness during hunting trip​

As weather conditions have worsened and the search area continues to expand, group leaders said they don’t think it would make sense to risk anyone’s life searching for Steve. Chris Dowdy, the man leading the search effort, said they are working to fund helicopters for more aerial searching in a broader area.

On

Is there any evidence that North Slope SAR even has a RECCO device? AFAIK it’s mostly used around skiers who can get buried in avalanches. It’s a handheld gizmo. Newly, there’s one that can be hung from a heli, but this would be in a very busy area of recreationists, e.g. Tetons/Yellowstone. They are very expensive. Northern AK would have almost no need for one. I seriously doubt Denali even has the heli version.

A moment later…
AK as a whole state has one RECCO. I believe if there had been reason to deploy it (or chance it would work), AK might have considered it, but it would take days to get up to Deadhorse, which would put it out of service for everyone else in AK when it’s very likely to be needed down south, by people who actually have RECCO receivers on their garments and have a chance to be found.

IMO this is waaay too much of a long shot to consider deploying on SK’s case.

However, If SK had taken any provisions for his own safety, it might have been a lot easier to accommodate his widow’s request somehow. E.g. the search team could have been loaned a handheld RECCO device.

Moreover, the donated funds would have enabled SK’s family to BUY one of the handheld versions.

Note here that AK does not deploy ANY RECCO detector (handheld or heli) unless you have a RECCO tag on you. You don’t have one? No dice.
This is very understandable IMO: you have to be choosey with your resources and allocate them according to chance of success.

State of AK video about their RECCO:

 

[RickshawFan]

I wonder if the cadaver dogs weren't used because their paws might get hurt with the foilage on the ground? If Steve happened to fall into a muskeg what other methods could be used to see if he is in one of them?

Short answer. None.

 

[RickshawFan]

Its the circuit board of the phone. Not clothing. Metal maybe his gun. I think its great but the hit would have to be mapped so that a search could be safely done. Maybe they have never used this technology, it is new afterall. If something is new and has worked then it should be used. If the old methods are not working then anything. If what everyone is saying about the lack of his survivability is true then he should be nearby. There is no way he could have gone far in his condition. As his tent was damp as mentioned by Chet.

The RECCO tech has been around for decades.

 

[RickshawFan]

Fitness might have been compromised by health conditions unrelated to weight & height. JMO

Fitness does not always depend on "the numbers" although are likely to be a factor in this case because the very heavy meat haul turned out to be a significant risk for SK.

Sure wish BC would weigh in but I would guess he is wanting this all to go away. As you recently well-documented here, BC could be looking at fines/liability, so laying low is likely to remain his choice of response. Nobody else was there so it's too bad we are unlikely to get his perspective.

My opinions only

That’s a great correction on the BMI not being a good predictor. I had forgotten that I once weighed 145 and was a size 2. That extra weight was all muscle from hiking 16 miles a day for 6 months. My BMI said I was obese, lol.

BMI= BODY MASS INDEX

 

[neesaki]

Question, or a few, about muskeg: What Is the primary danger? Is it drowning? Or getting stuck?
Is it like a swamp and sucks you down to where you can’t get out?
How deep are they?
I’ve read up on muskeg a little, but havent really found the answers for this question. TIA

 

[WingsOverTX]

Question, or a few, about muskeg: What Is the primary danger? Is it drowning? Or getting stuck?
Is it like a swamp and sucks you down to where you can’t get out?
How deep are they?
I’ve read up on muskeg a little, but havent really found the answers for this question. TIA

It's exhausting to walk on it, apparently. Every step & movement requires extra energy because the feet want to sink & the surface is not even due to tussocks. At one point in the discussions of the tundra surface in this thread, I wondered if wearing snow shoes might be helpful. Probably not since the surface is not as flat as it appears from a distance. Snowshoeing makes deep snow easier to navigate but is still harder labor than simply walking, too.

I think the searchers from the Lower 48 realized quickly that the energy & time required to cover enough distance on foot was bogging down search capabilities. That entire environment which seems so flat & barren in photos to most (not to me) is the biggest barrier to a hunt there & a very discouraging barrier in a SAR effort.

To me, the muskeg is major reason to avoid a DIY hunt on the North Slope as your first visit there.

This is all just my opinion.

 

[Hexe]

Question, or a few, about muskeg: What Is the primary danger? Is it drowning? Or getting stuck?
Is it like a swamp and sucks you down to where you can’t get out?
How deep are they?
I’ve read up on muskeg a little, but havent really found the answers for this question. TIA

Their depth differs. You can get stuck in muskeg, even up to your chest, you can drown if you panic and tangle yourself in the carpet of the moss, floating on the surface, or you can go down whole, if you have that bad luck to find a muskeg that is deep enough, that's very rare though. Anyway, if you go through the layer of vegetation on the muskeg, you make yourself wet. And that in Arctic means hypothermia.

 

[Hexe]

It's exhausting to walk on it, apparently. Every step & movement requires extra energy because the feet want to sink & the surface is not even due to tussocks. At one point in the discussions of the tundra surface in this thread, I wondered if wearing snow shoes might be helpful. Probably not since the surface is not as flat as it appears from a distance. Snowshoeing makes deep snow easier to navigate but is still harder labor than simply walking, too.

Snowshoes? Absolutely not. They do not prevent ripping through the moss and once you are in the water they work like a pair of nice and dandy anchors, keeping your feet firmly stuck at the bottom of the muskeg.

 

[WingsOverTX]

Snowshoes? Absolutely not. They do not prevent ripping through the moss and once you are in the water they work like a pair of nice and dandy anchors, keeping your feet firmly stuck at the bottom of the muskeg.

Yep. I thought so. If the natives aren't wearing them on the tundra then they are not a solution!