Search for missing Wasilla man continues today near Talkeetna

The Alaska State Troopers continued the search today for the missing snowmachiner in the Sheep River area near Talkeetna.

30-year-old Charles Palmer, has been missing since late Saturday. He and friends were on a day snowmachine ride from a recreational cabin about 5 miles off of Mastadon Road.   When he didn’t return to the cabin Saturday night, his friends called the state troopers on Sunday morning.

Troopers found Palmer’s snowmachine on a ridge above the Sheep River about 12 miles from the cabin on Sunday.

Since that time, poor weather conditions have hampered search efforts. Monday, snowfall was so heavy at times that the ground search became impossible. An aerial search occurred on Tuesday until heavy snowfall grounded the search.

Two search dogs were added to the team on Tuesday, but the winds were so strong that the dogs could not carry on the effort and the aerial search with the fixed wing aircraft also came to a halt.

The search continued today by ground only.  Heavy snow grounded the aerial search.

Local residents very familiar with the area have been aiding in the search effort.  Talkeetna area Fire Chief Ken Farina says Palmer appears to have disappeared without a trace.