Storm Surge Impacts Trail Between Shaktoolik and Koyuk

Today’s investigation revealed that last night’s winter storm caused water levels to surge 3 to 6 feet above the normal high tide line in the Norton Sound, depending on location. Those surges created cracks in the sea ice, pushed water on top of the ice through those cracks and broke shorefast ice loose on the coast. As a result, all routes over the Norton Bay from Shaktoolik to Koyuk are impassable due to open water or overflow and no consistent overland trails between the villages have been created this winter.

Toni Lund and Jussi Karjalainen, who were both brought back to Shaktoolik last night by search and rescue personnel, were flown to Unalakleet this afternoon to await flights back to Anchorage with the other six athletes who have not yet crossed Norton Bay - George Adams, Graham Muir, Roberto Gazzoli, Willy Mulonia, Asbjørn Bruun and Beat Jegerlehner.