Concern is growing for Australian hiker Jordan Yap, who has gone missing while trekking through Peru’s remote Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit and failed to return for a planned flight.
Mr Yap, 30, from Melbourne, left the city of Huaraz on September 14 to begin the 120km high-altitude route. He was expected back at the Krusty Hostel on September 23 to collect his belongings before taking an overnight bus to Lima and flying to Cusco the following day.
The hostel reportedly confirmed that he did not return, while his last WhatsApp message was sent on the day he set out. He had told his family he expected to be without phone contact for about ten days.
His family reported him missing after he failed to contact his partner, Anita. A friend is also understood to have contacted the Australian Embassy in Peru and local police for help.
“It is extremely out of character for him to be out of contact, and if he could manage to, he would know how worried we all are and make every effort to get a message across,” Anita said.
“So that’s why we’re very, very worried right now.”
The Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit is a rugged trek through the central Peruvian Andes. It usually takes between eight and 12 days and reaches elevations of about 5,000 metres.
Mr Yap’s family has reportedly been told by private rescuers that other hikers saw him on the third day of the trek. There has been no confirmed contact with him since he began the route.
His father, Vinh Dao, said Mr Yap was an experienced hiker who had completed trails in Australia, China, Turkey and Jordan.
“He’s an avid outdoor person. In winter time, he will spend most weekends on the snow field, even though he didn’t have a lot of luck with the weather, he loves hiking,” Mr Dao said.
Mr Dao was preparing to travel to Peru with his wife and urged Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to work with local authorities to find his son.
Mr Yap is described as about 174cm tall, with black, wavy hair. He was believed to be wearing a white jacket and green sunshade sweater, and carrying a 40-litre Durston hiking bag, hiking poles and a Durston dome tent.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian reported missing in Peru.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” the spokesman added.
