On a June day in 1983, 31-year-old Claude Chivers and his companion, 29-year-old Joseph Galbo, embarked on a canoe trip that would become their last. The two men set out on 6 Mile Creek in the scenic but challenging Turnagain Arm area near Hope, Alaska, on June 18th. Chivers, a white male with brown hair and blue eyes, stood at 5'8" and weighed around 205 pounds. He was reportedly wearing blue jeans, a plaid shirt, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat at the time of his disappearance.
Their adventure took a tragic turn when they failed to return as expected, prompting a search.
The initial search for the two overdue canoers soon uncovered grim evidence. Their canoe was discovered floating upright but empty near Miller's Creek, to the east of Cook Inlet. This discovery intensified the search efforts, which led to further somber finds. Searchers located the body of the men's dog and a life jacket believed to have been from their canoe. Despite these findings, there was no sign of either Claude Chivers or Joseph Galbo. The men were reported missing to the Alaska State Troopers on June 20, 1983.
The disappearance of Claude Chivers and Joseph Galbo remains a painful mystery for their families and the community. Without any further trace of the two men, authorities have long presumed that they drowned in the cold, turbulent waters of Turnagain Arm. The case is classified as one of a lost or injured missing person. The vast and often treacherous Alaskan wilderness likely claimed the two adventurers, leaving behind only fragments of their final journey and an enduring sense of loss. The official search may have concluded, but the uncertainty surrounding their final moments persists decades later.Last Seen: Jun 18, 1983
