Authorities in Dutch Harbor have confirmed that the body found on Pyramid Peak Monday is that of 33-year old Sitka woman, Jessica Acker.
Acker was reported missing Sunday evening, when she failed to return home from a hike.
Acker apparently left Westward Seafoods, where she worked as a fisheries observer, for a hike on Pyramid Peak Sunday afternoon.
Late Monday, a search team on Pyramid spotted Acker’s body in the bottom of a snowy ravine. At the time she was discovered however, Unalaska police chief Jamie Sunderland says it was impossible to retrieve her or make a positive identification.
“Conditions up there apparently were really horrible, apparently visibility was limited to about 10 feet, a lot of wet, blowing snow.”
Searchers returned to Pyramid Peak Tuesday morning to try again in better weather. Acker’s body was recovered in the Pyramid Valley, and brought out by snowmachine. Sunderland believes Acker’s death was accidental.
“It does appear from the evidence at the scene, that the apparent fall was a major factor in her death.”
Sunderland says a foot of fresh snowfall, plus icy conditions, made the search for other clues nearly impossible.
Acker moved to Sitka in March of last year, where she was employed by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game as technician in the Groundfish Division. She was working during her seasonal layoff as a fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Acker was originally from Wisconsin. She reportedly was an avid Alaskan hiker and outdoorswoman.
“From the descriptions of friends and family, she really traversed a lot of our island out here on foot. She had the gear on for a day hike. Unfortuately, it doesn’t seem like she notified anybody where she was going, or when to expect her back. And she was also by herself.”
Sunderland says Acker appears to have hiked around the far side of Pyramid, where there’s no cell service and even radio reception is patchy. The peak is 2,300 ft. tall, with miles of popular but sometimes treacherous hiking trails.
Monday’s search lasted about 12 hours and involved a dozen public safety and Coast Guard personnel and civilian volunteers, as well as a Coast Guard helicopter.
