In the remote and unforgiving landscape of Alaska, 30-year-old Guy Edwards, a seasoned and passionate mountaineer, was last seen on April 13, 2003. He and his climbing partner, 24-year-old John Millar, embarked on a challenging expedition to scale the formidable Devil's Thumb, a peak located approximately 30 miles northeast of Petersburg. The two men, both experienced climbers from British Columbia, were part of a three-person team that had traveled to the base of the Baird Glacier with supplies to last for an extended period of climbing. Their objective was the unclimbed, 6,000-foot north face of the mountain, a prize coveted by many in the climbing community for its extreme difficulty and remote location.
Their companion, Kai Hirvonen, chose not to join them on the ascent of Devil's Thumb. He last saw Edwards and Millar on April 13th as they set off with enough gear and food for a four to five-day climb. His final glimpse of them was the faint shine of their headlamps in the middle of the night. The weather in the days that followed was poor, and when his partners did not return as planned, Hirvonen grew concerned. After waiting, he skied to the head of Thomas Bay and used a hand-held radio to call for help. An exhaustive search was launched, but challenging weather conditions, including low clouds, hampered the efforts of the helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft involved. Search pilots noted that several avalanches had recently occurred in the area where the climbers were last seen.
Despite intermittent searches over several days, no sign of Guy Edwards or John Millar was ever found. The difficult terrain and the evidence of recent avalanches led to the heartbreaking conclusion that the two climbers had likely perished on the mountain. The official search was eventually called off. The northwest face of Devil's Thumb was known for its hazardous conditions, including bad weather, rockfall, and frequent avalanches, and has thwarted numerous expeditions over the years. The disappearance of Guy Edwards and John Millar remains a somber reminder of the inherent risks of mountaineering and the unforgiving power of nature in one of North America's most challenging alpine environments. Both men are presumed to be deceased.
Last Seen: Apr 14, 2003
