On July 11, 2023, at 9:03 PM, Alaska State Troopers responded to Mendenhall Lake near Mendenhall Glacier for a report of a found kayak with a dry bag attached to it. The individual who made the report to AST had found the kayak unoccupied with nobody nearby in distress, so they towed the kayak to shore prior to contacting AST. 

There were no identifying marks on the kayak, so AST took possession of the items for safekeeping. On July 16, 2023, AST was notified by the Juneau Police Department that an adult had been reported missing and their vehicle was in the parking lot of the Mendenhall Visitors Center. On July 17, 2023, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue, and SEADOGS K-9 team were utilized to search Mendenhall Lake and shoreline areas, and a chartered helicopter was used for an aerial search. 

During the search, a good Samaritan turned over a helmet with a Go-Pro camera attached. It was confirmed to have belonged to the missing adult. A review of the video determined the victim had drowned on July 11, 2023, the victim had just launched from the shore and it hit a small current with fast moving water and the kayak overturned dumping the victim into the glacial water. The kayak - a Sundolphin - appeared to sink and disappeared from sight.  It is believed that the victim was not wearing a PFD or appropriate protective clothing for glacial water sports. The search will continue to recover the body of the victim.

(Description adapted from an AST dispatch report)

Mendenhall Lake
Juneau                        