Still no sign of missing snowmachiner

TALKEENTA — The search for a snowmachiner lost on Bald Mountain entered its third day today.

Charles Palmer V, 30, of Wasilla, was last seen about 7:15 p.m. Saturday driving the wrong way as his snowmachining party headed back to the cabin they were staying in near Sheep Creek. Alaska State Troopers began the search effort bright and early Sunday morning after Palmer’s party reported him missing.

So far there has been no sign of him, though searchers did locate his snowmachine on their first day of looking.

Today, trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said troopers have been back on the mountain. Poor weather conditions, which have been hampering troopers all week, kept aircraft grounded. Ipsen said 28 inches of snow have accumulated in the area since the search began.

“It’s definitely hampered their ability to get around and search,” Ipsen said.

But troopers were better able to navigate the terrain thanks to some snowmachines they brought in today.

“They’ve got better equipment out there today. They’ve got mountain sleds that can better handle the snow,” she said.

Ipsen said there is no hard and fast rule for how long troopers will conduct a search operation.

“It’s one of those things where they get together at the end of the day and go over their efforts, go over the area of search and kind of weigh the plan of attack for tomorrow, are they going to go back out,” she said.