A weekend search by Alaska State Troopers for a man last seen Wednesday descending a steep 3,000-foot mountain near Ketchikan has been suspended after producing no sign of him.
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said efforts to find 22-year-old Justin Nathan were suspended as of 5 p.m. Sunday.
"A missing persons case will remain open until he is accounted for dead or alive," Peters wrote. "Next of kin was in communication with AST throughout the incident and are aware the active search was called off."
Nathan was first reported missing to troopers in the Southeast Alaska town by a 17-year-old boy who had been descending the mountain with him. The boy said Nathan, who was wearing jeans and a hoodie, had been drinking alcohol during the descent but reached a point where he said he couldn't continue.
At that point, the boy said, Nathan stayed on the mountain while the boy went downhill for help.
Peters said earlier Monday that no items of Nathan's were found by searchers over the weekend, but footprints were seen where Nathan was left behind Wednesday:
Weekend efforts included an intensive ground search by Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad members as well as Nathan's family and friends, backed up by aircraft.