MCGRATH — An Alaska State Trooper in a floatplane rescued a 29-year-old New York City man who set out to build a cabin and live in the wilderness.
Vladimir Yakushin was picked up Wednesday on the north fork of the Kuskokwim River about 120 river miles northeast of McGrath.
Troopers described him as low on food and distraught.
Yakushin had been dropped off nine days earlier at a lake.
He told troopers he concluded he was not equipped to build a cabin or remain in the area.
A friend he expected to meet did not appear and a satellite phone he rented didn’t work.
Yakushin hiked to a river and attempted to float out on a small raft. A state wildlife biologist and pilot spotted him frantically waving his paddles and alerted troopers.
