John Wipert 06-15-09
Searchers in Canada to join hunt for caretaker
Anchorage Daily News / adn.com, Published: July 7th, 2009
WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS -- Searchers are continuing to look for a 60-year-old lodge caretaker
last seen in mid-June but have so far turned up no sign of him, Alaska State Troopers
said Tuesday.
John Wipert had been taking care of the Ptarmigan Lake Lodge in the Wrangell-St.
Elias National Park when he took off with two of the lodge's horses and vanished,
troopers said. He left no indication that he planned to disappear and officials
were operating on the assumption he was lost or injured, troopers spokeswoman Megan
Peters said.
Searchers covering the area by ground and air have checked the likely routes he
might have taken and are now turning their efforts to less likely paths, Peters
said. They were to be joined by aerial searchers across the border in Canada today,
she said.
Wipert may have tried to cross the White River and searchers plan to focus their
attention on the drainage in coming days, Peters said.
Wipert is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds. He has
blue eyes and gray hair.
Anyone who may have seen Wipert or the horses is asked to call troopers at 907-883-5111
or 907-451-5100.