An Alaska man hunting in the preserve section of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve died of an apparent drowning in the Jacksina Creek/NPS

An Alaska man hunting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve apparently drowned when trying to cross a river, according to the National Park Service.

The body of David White, 40, from North Pole, was found Saturday alongside Jacksina Creek in the northern part of Wrangell-St. Elias. 

On August 12th, White stopped regular communication by InReach during a hunting trip in the Jacksina/Canyon Creek area near the end of the Nabesna Road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve, a park release said. His last InReach message indicated he was about to cross Jacksina Creek to access a hunting area across the valley.

On the evening of August 16th, National Park Service rangers were notified by his point-of-contact that he had stopped checking in. Starting August 17th, NPS search teams and Alaska wildlife troopers began scanning the area daily. By August 20th, White was officially overdue; helicopters and fixed wing aircraft continued searching from the air while ground teams walked and packrafted the area looking for signs of the hunter. 

At approximately 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturay packrafting search team personnel found the deceased alongside Jacksina Creek. Based on evidence at the scene, it appears that White attempted to cross Jacksina Creek and was swept away by the current, the park release said.