Missing Fairbanks snowmachiner found dead near Selawik Hot Springs

A snowmachiner who went missing while travelling from Shungnak to Fairbanks was found dead Tuesday evening, Alaska State Troopers say.

According to a dispatch posted online, 27-year-old Travis Loughridge left Shungnak at around noon on Saturday. He was expected to travel via Huslia and Galena, arriving in Fairbanks at around 5 p.m. on Monday. Troopers say he was reported missing after no one heard from him.

A search team from Shungnak was sent to look for Loughridge near the Selawik Hot Springs. Another team from Huslia found Loughridge’s body near the hot springs on Tuesday at around 7 p.m.

“Loughridge's snowmachine was located in a nearby water crossing. It appears he had broken through the ice while attempting to cross and succumbed to hypothermia,” troopers wrote.

As of Wednesday morning, troopers said efforts to recover Loughridge's remains were still ongoing and could be hampered by extremely cold conditions in the area.