Late Saturday night, a report of an overdue hiker went out to the Alaska State Troopers in Kodiak from the village of Akhiok, 80 miles southwest of Kodiak.

VPSO Simeonoff of Akhiok reported to troopers at 10:39 pm that he had been notified that 20-year-old Brandon Phillips of Akhiok had not been seen since early that morning at 6:20 am when he departed the village. According o the VPSO, Phillips had left that morning on an ATV and was going on a hike in the local area.

VPSO Simeonoff formed up two hasty search parties and the teams went out to patrol the area. When they did so, they located an abandoned ATV as well as a kayak which may have been used by Phillips.

On Sunday, the United States Coast Guard launched several helicopters to search the area after they were notified of the missing person by Alaska State Troopers.

But, weather conditions were hampering search efforts on Sunday. The troopers attempted to send nine Kodiak Island Search and Rescue volunteers to Akhiok on Sunday but weather delayed their departure.

“Our top priority is to locate the missing hiker,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael McCandless, a Sector Anchorage command duty officer. “We are working closely with the Alaska State Troopers and our local partners to search the area near the man’s last known location.”

The search continues for the missing villager and his family is on the scene and are aware of the search efforts.

Troopers believe that alcohol played a factor in the incident.

Akhiok, with its population of approximately 70 people, is the southernmost village on Kodiak Island and lies approximately 80 miles to the southwest of the city of Kodiak.