ANCHORAGE - The search continues in Alaska for a missing survival expert from Three Lakes.

The Director of Teaching Drum Outdoor School Tamareck Song, said "I have complete confidence in him if he’s not injured, that’s the big question."

31-year-old Thomas Seibold was declared missing November 11th.

The German native teaches survival classes at Drum Teaching Outdoors School in Three Lakes.

Over the last few months he’s been hiking in a remote area in north western Alaska.


Beth Ipsen, a spokesperson for the Alaskan State Troopers, said "It’s an enormous area where we’re looking. We don’t know for sure where he is. There was bad weather and we have a small layer of snow which is potentially covering any tracks but it’s not enough snow where we can get out there on snow machines."

Seibold was staying with a woman who owns a cabin near the Artic National Park by the Ambler River.

He left a note saying he was hiking to the town of Kobuk which is about 25 miles from where he was staying.

As a skilled survivor instructor Seibold frequently takes long hikes alone.

“He learned how to read the signs, how to read the weather, how to read the sun, stars, moon. He learned here how to navigate without a map and compass," said Song.

Seibold left without any forms of communication, but when he missed his flight from Kobuk to Anchorage on November 11th, friends began to worry.

Ipsen said, "He’s actually very skilled as far as surviving off the land. He’s very self-efficient. He knows how to build shelters. We’re pretty confident that that if anyone is going to get out of this it would be him."

Seibold came to Three Lakes from Germany five years ago. After completing the yearlong emersion program, he interned with the school for two years before being hired.

Song says he was a star student.

“It’s heart rending and we’re all taking it differently. It’s my responsibility to maintain perspective. So I’m coordinating the search on this end with any information I can help with and provide," said Song.

With nearly two feet of snow on the ground in far northern Alaska and temperatures at night dipping to minus 40, hypothermia is a great concern.

Son said, "Send you hopes, wishes, and prayers Thomas’ way.”

Story By: Jenn Sullivan