It's a tough run I understand - we lost one contestant last year - and to my knowledge he hasn't been seen since.
Still No Sign of Missing Mount Marathon Runner
July 07, 2012
Mount Marathon runner Michael Lemaitre, 66 (center), is the subject of a Thursday search after he disappeared during the 85th annual running of the grueling Independence Day footrace. Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group both have searchers on the mountain.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A search of Mount Marathon near Seward resumed Saturday morning after being suspended Friday evening for Michael LeMaitre, the 66-year-old runner last seen during the 85th annual Mount Marathon footrace Wednesday.
Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Beth Ipsen and searchers say the footrace's trail and its surroundings were thoroughly searched Thursday and Friday, despite searchers reporting difficulties including poor visibility, rockslides and encounters with two black bears. Saturday's efforts, with at least 65 searchers on the mountain being aided by clearer weather, focused on areas of Mount Marathon not yet explored.
That follows Friday's effort, with at least 50 searchers looking at Mount Marathon's higher and midrange elevations.
Two base stations for the search have been set up at Seward's fire station and airport, with AST's Helo-3 flying teams from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group to various points on the mountain, from which they will search downhill -- a reversal of Thursday's pattern, in which crews made their way up the mountain on foot.
