Thousands of Yeti Coolers Are Washing Up on the Alaskan Shore

2022-09-24 09:15:51 By : Ms. Sarah Zhu

© Courtesy of Yeti Cooler connoisseurs rejoice! Thousands of pricey Yeti coolers are washing up on the shores of Alaska after a cargo ship unintentionally sent a few cases overboard. All told, 109 cooler containers dropped into the sea near Washington's Olympic Peninsula last year.

Now, residents of the Last Frontier are setting off on foot and, in some cases, taking flight to scout out a free cooler of their own. Their enthusiastic efforts are understandable because these coolers aren't cheap. Yeti's average-sized coolers can run up to $800, while its most expensive option costs a whopping $1,500.

Even if these icy containers were cheap, who doesn't love free stuff? Not to mention the fact that in addition to bragging rights, you can also feel self-righteous about clearing the beaches of plastic waste. It's a win-win.

These bougie beverage boxes are going fast. One astute cooler spotter reportedly grabbed 20 of them. Why would they need that many? Who knows. One can only hope they have a Robin Hood-like plan to distribute their wealth and good fortune evenly.

Alas, there are still a ton of coolers out there, so get in a car or hop on a flight and get going. This deal is only available for a limited time while supplies last. But don't take our word for it; look at the photographic evidence below.

In October, the #ZimKingston spilled 109 shipping containers near the WA/BC border. Debris has floated north ever since, onto beaches on Vancouver Island, then Haida Gwaii, then SE Alaska, and most recently the Kenai Peninsula (top of the Gulf of AK). A debris thread… 1/n pic.twitter.com/f5aMWLY3D6— KUOW Public Radio (@KUOW) September 7, 2022

In October, the #ZimKingston spilled 109 shipping containers near the WA/BC border. Debris has floated north ever since, onto beaches on Vancouver Island, then Haida Gwaii, then SE Alaska, and most recently the Kenai Peninsula (top of the Gulf of AK).

A debris thread… 1/n pic.twitter.com/f5aMWLY3D6

These @YETICoolers were all found on beaches near Seward, Alaska: ~1,000 miles from where the #ZimKingston spilled containers off WA’s Olympic Peninsula. Pics courtesy Duke Marolf. 4/n pic.twitter.com/Z9oLhpDezy— KUOW Public Radio (@KUOW) September 7, 2022

These @YETICoolers were all found on beaches near Seward, Alaska: ~1,000 miles from where the #ZimKingston spilled containers off WA’s Olympic Peninsula. Pics courtesy Duke Marolf. 4/n pic.twitter.com/Z9oLhpDezy

Hannah Richter uses two beach-found coolers as a platform for cutting salmon in Craig, Alaska. Courtesy @spencerrichter. 7/n pic.twitter.com/fNrzwteqPR— KUOW Public Radio (@KUOW) September 7, 2022

Hannah Richter uses two beach-found coolers as a platform for cutting salmon in Craig, Alaska. Courtesy @spencerrichter. 7/n pic.twitter.com/fNrzwteqPR

A Yeti cooler found on a remote beach near Elfin Cove (across from @GlacierBayNPS), Chichagof Island, Alaska, in July. Courtesy Chris and Serena Lillehoff 9/n pic.twitter.com/qFgJNgcnNL— KUOW Public Radio (@KUOW) September 7, 2022

A Yeti cooler found on a remote beach near Elfin Cove (across from @GlacierBayNPS), Chichagof Island, Alaska, in July. Courtesy Chris and Serena Lillehoff 9/n pic.twitter.com/qFgJNgcnNL

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Jeremy Porr is a News Writer at Thrillist. Follow Jeremy on Instagram.