A Virginia man disappeared while trekking through Peru’s historic Andes Mountains and has not made contact for more than a month, prompting what his family describes as an extensive search across the unforgiving landscape.
Ian Treger, 29, of Lexington, Va., was last in touch with relatives on May 13 while traveling in Cusco, Peru, his mother, Michelle Ludwig, wrote in a GoFundMe post.
Treger had entered the South American country on May 11 for what was planned as a 10-day visit, staying at an Airbnb between demanding hikes on “high-risk” mountain trails, family friend Donna Welch told WDBJ.
Welch said surveillance video last captured Treger as he was leaving the Airbnb.
Treger, who teaches English in Latin America, was officially listed as missing in a report issued by the Peruvian National Police on June 2.
Searchers have so far been unable to locate him, in part because authorities do not know which of the area’s many trails he may have taken, the outlet reported.
Police in the Cusco region have mounted several search operations, using helicopters as well as ground teams from the High Mountain Rescue Units, according to Peru’s state-run news agency Andina.
Local authorities have faced additional challenges in the search because Treger’s phone is no longer connected to a network.
“We don’t have reliable information on where the tourist has gone, and that complicates things for us,” a police spokesperson told the outlet as they tried to track Treger by his phone’s location. “Suddenly it’s turned off, which makes geolocation even more difficult.”
Peruvian officials seemed to narrow down their efforts to two locations, Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain and Choquequirao archaeological park, in southern Peru.
Treger is described as 5-foot-10, with a medium build and two fish tattoos on his right calf.
“Please help me fund costly private search & rescue efforts. The area is extremely large with hazards around every corner,” Ludwig wrote.
The frantic mother shared trail maps on the fundraiser that showed large areas of the land that traversed through with “high risk slopes” and “dangerous ravines.”
“Everyone who knows or has met Ian enjoys his sense of humor, appreciates his love of life, is fascinated by his many tales of travel, and will never forget his beautiful smile & bright blue eyes,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig has since traveled down to Peru and is working with the US Embassy to help search for her son, weeks after he went missing.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans, and the U.S. Embassy in Peru has been closely engaged since Mr. Treger’s disappearance was reported. We would refer you to Peruvian law enforcement for questions regarding their search effort,” a State Department spokesperson told WDBJ.
Officials in Peru have recovered Treger’s laptop from the Airbnb and are sending it back to the US, with hopes it has information on his whereabouts.
“We just love Ian and we’re just so worried of what has happened to Ian because it is not like him to not be in contact with his family and we are very concerned,” Welch said.
