A 30‑year‑old Australian trekker, Jordan Yap, has been missing for nearly two weeks after he last contacted friends and family on 14 September while preparing for a 10‑day solo hike along Peru’s Huayhuash mountain range. The trek, which covers 120 kilometres of high‑altitude Andes terrain, is considered challenging and remote.
Yap was known as an experienced hiker and had been planning the trip for over a year, recently purchasing a GPS watch with offline maps. He failed to check in at the Krusty hostel in Huaraz, where his luggage remains, and missed a scheduled flight from Lima to Cusco on Thursday. In addition, he misplaced a satellite beacon he was carrying days before departure, raising further concerns.
A private rescue crew has conducted a wide‑scale sweep of the circuit, but no trace of Yap has been found. The family has hired the local mountain rescue organisation Socorro Andino Peruano and is urging Peruvian authorities to mobilise additional resources. The Australian embassy in Peru is assisting the family, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.
Friends describe Yap as a skilled orienteer who might have taken an alternative route. His loved ones remain hopeful that the rescue team, which recently rescued a Canadian trekker from the same trail, will locate him safely. Time is considered critical, as Yap has had no contact since 14 September despite being reported missing on 23 September.
