David Paisley Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Oct 06, 2023

David

Paisley

63

38

76 inches

190 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and unforgiving wilderness of Alaska, experienced mountaineer and guide David Paisley, a 38-year-old from Colorado, embarked on what would be his final expedition in late May of 2000. He was leading two clients on an ascent of the formidable 16,421-foot Mount Bona, located in the remote Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. After successfully reaching the summit, the group began their descent. It was during this descent, on May 31, 2000, that tragedy struck. As they navigated a glacier, David fell approximately 75 to 135 feet into a deep crevasse. The fall was compounded by a subsequent collapse of snow and ice, which buried him. His two clients, unable to rescue him, made the difficult decision to anchor the rope and return to their base camp for help. Another guided party discovered the note and the anchored rope left by David's clients. Despite the inherent dangers, a member of the second party attempted to investigate but also broke through the fragile snow, falling into the crevasse before being successfully extricated without injury. This second climber was able to see David's rope disappearing into the snow and ice but could not see David himself. The perilous and unstable conditions of the crevasse quickly led to the conclusion that a recovery of David's body would be impossible. Due to the significant hazards posed to any potential rescuers by the large volume of unstable snow and ice, a difficult decision was made by authorities, including the Alaska State Troopers and National Park Service rangers, to not proceed with a recovery effort. This decision was supported by David's wife, who was also an experienced mountaineer and understood the immense risks involved. David was remembered by his business partner as a cautious, safe, and highly professional guide who was not a risk-taker. Friends and colleagues described him as a quality individual who was well-liked by everyone. The climbing community mourned the loss of a meticulous and methodical mountaineer who was a strong practitioner of risk-management and deeply respected the inherent dangers of the sport. His body was never recovered from the depths of the crevasse on Mount Bona.

May 31, 2000

Glennallen

Alaska

Valdez–Cordova Census Area

No

77686

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

000037757

Alaska State Troopers

na

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

06/26/2026