Man, 29, Went Missing as He Prepared to Hike a Historic Trail. More Than a Month Later, He Still Hasn’t Been Found
Ian Treger, 29, was last heard from on May 13 in the Cusco region of Peru, where he planned to go hiking.
Ian Treger.Credit : gofundme

NEED TO KNOW

  • A man went missing while hiking in Peru in May, and he still hasn’t been found
  • Ian Treger planned a 10-day hiking trip in the Cusco region of the country before he vanished
  • The 29-year-old’s mother is assisting in the search, as are local authorities and the Trump administration, which is working with the U.S. Embassy in Peru

A man went missing while hiking in Peru last month. He still hasn’t been found.

Ian Treger went missing on May 13 as he set out to explore the Cusco region of southeastern Peru, his mother, Michelle Ludwig, said on GoFundMe.

“I lost contact with my son [as he was] preparing to trek one of the many historic Andean trails in the region,” Ludwig wrote on the crowdsourcing page, which is raising money to cover search and rescue costs for Treger.

Treger, 29, planned a 10-day hiking trip in the region after he arrived in Peru on May 11. When the U.S. resident failed to return, his family filed a missing persons report, according to WDBJ 7.

Ian Treger, 29, was last heard from on May 13 in the Cusco region of Peru, where he planned to go hiking.
Ian Treger was reported missing in Peru on May 13.gofundme

Treger taught English in Latin America for several years, the outlet reported. He is described as being of average build with fair skin, blue eyes, thick eyebrows and blond hair.

Peruvian news agency Andina reported that preliminary information indicates Treger may have traveled to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) and Choquequirao Archaeological Park.

Peru’s National Police (PNP) and local search and rescue teams are conducting ground and air searches in the areas.

“We are coordinating with the Cusco Directorate of Culture, with Director Maritza Rosa Candia, to obtain permission to land the helicopter on the archaeological park’s esplanade,” PNP Colonel Carlos Guizado told the outlet. “We understand that the site is protected, but we hope authorization will be granted so that we can deploy High Mountain Rescue personnel in that area.”

“We do not have reliable information about where the tourist may have gone, which is making the search more difficult,” added Guizado.

No cellphone activity or geolocation has been traced to Treger at this time, per Andina.

Sacred Valley of the Incas Landscapes, Cusco - Peru
Sacred Valley of the Incas Landscapes in Cusco, Peru.Getty

Surveillance footage shows Treger leaving his Airbnb in Cusco before he went missing, per WDBJ 7.

“There’s no leads. Nothing is showing on the camera except him leaving his Airbnb,” a family friend, Donna, told the outlet, adding that Treger’s mother recently traveled to Peru to search for him.

“She’s been working with the police, the U.S. Embassy and the military to track down his last steps,” the woman said of Ludwig.

The Trump administration is working with the U.S. Embassy in Peru to help find the 29-year-old, according to WDBJ 7.

“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,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. “We would refer you to Peruvian law enforcement for questions regarding their search effort.”

PEOPLE reached out to the PNP and the U.S. Embassy in Peru for comment on Saturday, June 20, but did not immediately hear back.