It's early April, and I'm back in Girdwood, Alaska.

The sun's out in full force today, encouraging the visitors and the residents of this eccentric ski town

to trade in their down jackets for t-shirts.

As the Aliaska Highway comes to a tee butted up against the mountain, I look both ways,

then take a left.

At the end of this winding road is the Aliaska Prince Hotel, a weekend getaway that more

resembles Castle Grey Skull than a posh ski resort hotel.

But today, I'm not looking for overnight accommodations.

I'm headed for the Winter Creek Trail.

Located just out the back door of the Aliaska Prince Hotel, this mellow trail offers stunning

views of river gorges, lush mountain rainforest, and

jagged glacier-capped peaks. In fact, it was on this trail on August 2, 2016, that Bradford

Broch, a 46-year-old tourist from Texas, signed the Winter Creek Trail Registry at 9.45 p.m.

After Broch interacted briefly with another hiker, he headed down the obvious and well-maintained

trail, presumably anticipating a short evening stroll. But when Broch failed to catch his flight

home a few days later, his family contacted the Alaska State Troopers, and a search was initiated.

Over the next few weeks, troopers utilized the support of the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group,

Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, the Gerdwood Volunteer Fire Department,

as well as hotel employees and other members of the community.

Helicopters flew the valleys, search dogs scoured the forests,

and a local kayaker even ran the rivers,

searching for any sign of brooch, all to no avail.

...