Ground search suspended for hiker missing on Crow Pass Trail between Girdwood and Eagle River

Ground searches were suspended Tuesday for a 74-year-old Eagle River man who was reported overdue from a solo hike on Crow Pass Trail, the Alaska State Troopers said.

Search teams have been looking for Gary Fisk since Friday, and troopers said in an update Monday night that aerial searches would continue as weather and equipment availability allow.

Fisk left Tuesday morning to hike Crow Pass, a popular but challenging trail that runs about 21 miles between Girdwood and Eagle River and typically takes two to three days to complete.

Fisk started at the Girdwood end of the trail at about 8 a.m. Tuesday and was expected to complete his hike sometime Thursday afternoon.

Search operations began around 4 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, a troopers helicopter was dispatched along with a team of 12 that set out to search the length of the trail through the day.

A helicopter dropped off search crews again Sunday at different areas of the trail, as other volunteers searched by foot and with dogs, incident commander Dean Knapp said.

Fisk is described as “bearded, and 6 ft tall,” according to a social media post from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group.

“He may be wearing a royal blue coat, black knitted hat, black rain pants, charcoal pants, and bright red shirt,” the post said.

A dispatch from troopers described Fisk as “an experienced outdoorsman” who “was prepared for a 3-day hike but weather conditions deteriorated with heavy snow and trees down in the area.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to the Alaska State Troopers at 907-451-5100 or through their new app, AKTips.