Missing Kugluktuk hunters found
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Kugluktuk (Nov 06/00) - A week-long search for two Kugluktuk hunters had a happy ending Sunday as the pair were spotted from the air.
Search and rescue teams had combed the Comox Lake area for the men, reported overdue more than a week ago.
Brothers Gordon Ailanak, 35, and John Aviligak, 42, left the Kitikmeot hamlet by snowmobile last Sunday morning, Oct. 29, for a day-long hunting trip approximately 56 kilometres outside of Kugluktuk.
According to an official with the search office, the pair were spotted from the air shortly before noon yesterday. They were walking about 93 miles west of Kugluktuk. At press time, a DND Twin Otter was in the area and a ground crew was being sent to pick the men up. There was no word on their condition.
Time is crucial
Time is crucial when travellers go missing in the Arctic and Kuglutuk's volunteer search and rescue society immediately began scouring the tundra.
Fred Cornelssen, a spokesperson for the society, said the men are well-seasoned hunters and knew how to travel on the land.
"They're strong people, well experienced. They don't really know that area, but they're experienced," said Cornelssen. "They don't have a lot of gear but as long as they're not injured or wet, they can survive."
RCMP at the local detachment took control of the search on Oct 31.
A First Air Twin Otter was commandeered and with four spotters on board began to comb the area.
At daybreak Thursday, the ground crew was increased to a team of 20 and the plane continued a search from the air.
Cornelssen said grids were drawn up to cover areas north and south of where the men were hunting. It snowed on the day the hunting trip began, but has been clear since.
Residents of Kugluktuk were concerned for the brothers' safety.
People are close
"People in Kugluktuk are pretty close so if somebody gets lost, you have to go out and search for them," said Jack Himiak, secretary for the hamlet's yearling search and rescue society.
When travellers go missing, Himiak said it's "usually because they break down or because of the weather."
Officially registered as a society a year ago to help raise operating funds, the search and rescue society has been successful in its missions.
While they have been lucky enough to find everyone alive, it has not been without worry and stress, Himiak said.
Stress increases tenfold when the search teams walk the fine line between risking their lives and desire to rescue the lost.
Himiak said the key is having a trained and experienced team comfortable working in Arctic weather.
"You've got to try and find them even when you can't see in front of you," he said.
"You've got to keep trying. It's not a good feeling, but you can't feel down and you can't give up," said Himiak.
Cornelssen is the only non-Inuk member of Kugluktuk's search and rescue society. He was brought in to help with the paperwork, get the group registered and to raise funds for the necessary equipment. The team had at least two snowmobiles and qamutiks packed and ready to go at all times.
"We're making sure we can get out and look for our people," said Cornelssen.
