Alaska Is Hard On Tourists And The Season Hasn't Officially Started Yet

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Don Alaska, May 23, 2023.

  1. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
    Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2018
    Messages:
    12,906
    Likes Received:
    24,205
    We had three tourists die over the weekend and the "official" tourist season doesn't start until next weekend. A woman form Oregon was found dead along the railroad tracks near Cantwell (near Denali Park). I haven't heard a cause of death, but she was apparently camping and died. I don't know if she was alone.

    Another woman from Illinois decided to take a walk on the "beach in Turnagin Sound near Hope. Those of you who have been here may have seen the big "beaches" that appear to the south of Anchorage when the tide goes out. They aren't beaches but mud flats that are very quicksand-like. Almost every year someone dies trying to walk out on the flats and they sink to their knees and cannot move. We have very high tides in Alaska and they are often Bore Tides which come in like a small tsunami that I have actually "surfed" in a canoe. The tide can come up 10 feet or more in a few minutes. The rescue folks have special gear that can literally blow you out of the sand, but someone has to notify them and they have to have time to respond.

    The third death was a man from Colorado who was self-touring on a four wheeler ATV and rolled it on himself, killing himself.

    It isn't dangerous here if you use common sense, but it can be fatal if you don't.
     
    #1
  2. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    May 29, 2020
    Messages:
    25,251
    Likes Received:
    37,079
    I can't imagine. I guess every region with an intense environment has its annual death count.
     
    #2
    Don Alaska likes this.

Share This Page