After receiving a missing person report at 9:30 AM, Nome-based Alaska State troopers initiated a search for a Nome man who did not arrive at work as scheduled this morning.

36-year-old Joseph Balderas of Nome, is believed to have been out hiking and Mountain running on Sunday and did not return back to Nome as planned. His vehicle was located at mile 44 of the Nome-Council Highway.

After responding to the vehicle, troopers say “they could not locate Balderas in the immediate area.”

According to the trooper dispatch, “a trooper super cub aircraft is responding, as well as a chartered private helicopter with Nome SAR spotters.” In addition to those assets, the Nome volunteer fire department/Search and Rescue is responding with ATVs.

A US Coast Guard helicopter, that was on a training mission in Kotzebue, was also redirected to assist.

This is a developing story, and so will be updated as additional information becomes available.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

  aircraft, Alaska, atv, Coast Guard, helicopter, hiker, joseph balderas, missing, nome, search and rescue