Joseph Galbo Missing Person Case

On a summer day in June of 1983, two men set out on a canoe trip on 6 Mile Creek in the scenic, yet unforgiving, landscape of Hope, Alaska. Joseph Dominic Galbo, 29, and his friend, Claude Chivers, embarked on their journey in the Turnagain Arm area, a place known for its powerful tides and cold, glacier-fed waters. The two men were reported overdue on June 20, 1983, after failing to return as planned. This initiated a search for the pair, as friends and family grew increasingly concerned for their safety in the rugged Alaskan wilderness.

The initial search efforts brought a somber discovery. The canoe the two men had been using was found floating upright and unoccupied. This unsettling find was made near Miller's Creek, to the east of the Cook Inlet. Adding to the growing sense of tragedy, searchers also located the body of the men's dog and a life jacket that was believed to have been from their canoe. Despite these findings, there was no sign of either Joseph Galbo or Claude Chivers. The vast and challenging terrain surrounding the Turnagain Arm yielded no further clues as to their whereabouts.

The disappearance of Joseph Galbo and Claude Chivers remains an unresolved case, leaving their loved ones with unanswered questions. At the time he went missing, Joseph was described as a White male, standing at 5'8' and weighing 155 pounds, with both brown hair and brown eyes. He also wore glasses. The circumstances of their disappearance strongly suggest a tragic accident on the water. Authorities presume that both men drowned in the turbulent waters of 6 Mile Creek. The case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the inherent risks associated with Alaska's wild and beautiful waterways, and the profound loss experienced by families when loved ones venture into the wilderness and do not return.
Last Seen: Jun 18, 1983

Joseph Galbo, 29, & Claude Chivers, 31, Hope/Turnagain ...