Walter Kay Thomas, known as Wally, was 34 when he left Kotzebue in a skiff for Buckland on October 1, 1998 and never arrived. He was dressed for Arctic autumn in a full Carhart suit, green down ski pants, a white pullover parka, canvas air force mukluks and an old beaver hat. Debris from his skiff washed ashore between Cape Blossom and Riley Wreck, confirming the vessel was lost at sea.

Extensive searches of the Chukchi Sea and nearby coastline produced no sign of Walter himself. With no witnesses and only scattered pieces of the boat recovered, investigators could not determine whether weather, mechanical failure or another event caused the incident. The disappearance remains unresolved and deeply painful for his family and community.

Did anyone in the Kotzebue or Buckland area have information about Walter’s trip or recall unusual conditions on October 1, 1998?