Hello Friends and Family, Below is a press release explaining where we are at with Thomas's search.
Would you please forward the release to your friends and any media contacts you have? Sending you love always, Lety
Press Release: Update on Seibold Search and Rescue, Alaska, 12-7-12
Background:
On November 11, 2012, the Alaska State Troopers Kotzebue post, located in northwest Alaska, was notified
that Thomas Seibold, an instructor at Wisconsin's Teaching Drum Outdoor
School, did not board his scheduled flight home on that day. The
Troopers, headed up by Sgt. Duane Stone, immediately launched a search.
Since September 15, Thomas had been staying at a cabin on the upper
Ambler River, in the Brooks Range just outside Gates of the Arctic
National Park. The last known person to see Thomas was the cabin's
owner, who left the area on September 29.
In a search of the
cabin, Troopers found Thomas's diary. The last entry was October 7,
where he stated he was preparing to go on a several-day exploration. The
Troopers found no evidence of him being at the cabin after that
approximate date.
An instructor at Wisconsin's Teaching Drum
Outdoor School, Thomas was highly trained in primitive survival skills,
including building snow shelters, ice safety, making fire by rubbing two
sticks together, and orienteering without map or compass. He had
camping experience in minus 25°F temperatures.
After six
flights over 13 days, which included a ground search of the cabin area
and one other spot, the Troopers suspended their search on November 24.
It was taken up by family and friends, who weren't ready to give up on
Thomas. They read about successful rescues of others who survived in
Arctic conditions for up to 49 days without food, equipment, or
training, and Thomas had at least some of all three. The family and
friends contracted privately with two of the bush pilots previously
employed by the Troopers
Update:
On November 29, the
Troopers handed over Thomas's remaining belongings from the cabin to
next of kin. An assessment of those belongings and subsequent interviews
with Ambler-area residents who met Thomas revealed three new clues:
• A missing map section that Thomas may have with him indicates he had
an interest in exploring the headwaters of the Imelyac, Amakomanek,
Cutler, and Redstone Rivers, along with the Ambler.
• When the cabin
owner left, Thomas handed her a book he had just finished reading: The
Last Light Breaking, by Nick Jans. A well-worn section describes the
traditional Eskimo routes through the same headwaters area as on the
missing map.
• Area residents told Thomas alluring stories of the
headwaters area's beauty and wildlife, and Thomas read several other
books on the area, including Seth Kantner's bestsellers.
A quote
from Thomas's last diary entry: "After I've read a lot about…this area,
it's exciting to actually be here, and to see the things with my own
eyes."
Only 25% of the 20 by 30 mile headwaters area has been
searched. Most of it lies in National Park Service land, in the Noatak
National Preserve and the Gates of the Arctic National Park. To shift
the search to those areas, Park Service cooperation will be sought. In
addition, a ground search utilizing professional trackers and
snowmobiles is being organized.
The family welcomes
contributions to help meet expenses. Checks made out to Recovery Fund
for Thomas Seibold can be sent to First National Bank, PO Box 627, Three
Lakes, WI 54562
For more details:
Sgt. Duane Stone: 907-442-3222
Tamarack Song (Teaching Drum Outdoor School Director): 715-546-2944
This press release was prepared by the family and friends of Thomas Seibold, 7124 Military Road, Three Lakes, WI 54562
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