April 5, 2021
Valdez, AK – Valdez Fire Department Backcountry Search & Rescue Team successfully located a missing snowmachine rider alive on Monday morning after he was reported overdue on Sunday.
At approximately 10:16 a.m. on Sunday, Valdez Dispatch received notification of an overdue snowmachine rider. Family of 57-year old Tim Mills reported him missing after he did not return overnight from riding near Valdez Glacier on Saturday.
Upon arrival on scene, responders observed Mills’ snow covered vehicle parked in the Valdez Glacier parking lot. Multiple specialized teams on snowmachine, consisting of riders from VFD Backcountry Search & Rescue and Valdez Snowmachine Club, spent approximately ten hours Sunday searching the glacier area for Mills. Helicopter assets on standby remained grounded Sunday due to weather and low visibility.