At about 4:35pm on January 15th, a report went in to the Alaska State Troopers reporting an overdue snowmachiner traveling from Togiak to Manokotak. It was reported that the traveler left Manokotak on January 13th.

VPSOs from both villages checked their respective communities and found that 43-year-old Togiak resident Douglas Gamechuk was not present in either community.

At 7pm on the 15th, searchers departed Togiak and searched the trail from Togiak towards Manokotak. Manokotak searchers also left their village with the intentions of meeting up with the Togiak searchers on the trail.

During the search on the trail, Gamechuk’s snow machine was discovered about 35 miles outside of Mankotak out of gas.

The searcch continued through the night for Gamechuk. At about 5:30am on January 16th, Gamchuk’s remains were found near the trail. His body was found about 4 or 5 miles from his snow machine.

The State Medical Examiner in Anchorage was contacted, and an autopsy was requested.

Next of kin was notified.

Temperatures in the area were recorded at below zero during the time of the incident.