Scientists are warning that sea ice conditions in Alaska are "shockingly bad" due to a lack of ice, which has contributed to unusually warm coastal temperatures. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that thick, old sea ice that can survive through the summer no longer moves in to reinforce what's lost. The remaining coastal sea ice is often too fragile or sparse for hunters to travel on, and drifting chunks of ice present hazards for hunters venturing out in skiffs. However, there is some hope that the open water in the Chukchi Sea will soon freeze and that La Niña could reduce temperatures in Southcentral Alaska and other areas of the state.