The sudden disappearance of a Virginia teacher during a planned hiking expedition in Peru has left his family desperately searching for answers and hoping for his safe return.
Ian Thomas Treger, 29, intended to complete his trek to the Choquequirao Archaeological Park by around May 20. However, concern mounted when his family was unable to reach him, raising alarms about his whereabouts.
Initially, his mother, Michelle Ludwig, thought her son might be having trouble communicating due to poor cell phone reception in the remote Andes region. She shared this with The News-Gazette.
Ludwig also speculated that he may have spontaneously decided to take a detour to visit Peru’s renowned Machu Picchu archaeological site.
“I wasn’t too worried because he often changes his plans,” she commented, noting that her son is an Eagle Scout with extensive outdoor experience. She remains hopeful given his familiarity with navigating the wilderness.
According to his Instagram profile, he is also very well-traveled, with his last post showing him in Ecuador on April 16.
Ludwig said he traveled to Peru after wrapping up his teaching year at Ecuador’s Galápagos Language Academy.
She said he wanted to experience Jubilee Month, a month-long celebration in Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes.
Ian Thomas Treger, 29, vanished while preparing for a multi-day hike in Peru. His family is now begging the public for answers after not hearing from him in weeks
His mother, Michelle Ludwig, said he traveled to Peru after wrapping up his teaching year at Ecuador’s Galápagos Language Academy
His distraught mother said she notified local authorities that Treger was missing on May 26, but an alert wasn’t issued by Peruo’s national police until June 11 – when she arrived to join in the search for her son.
‘I really thought something was happening, that they were looking for my son. But they weren’t,’ she told the outlet.
Two Peruvian police divisions, the High Mountain Rescue Police and the Missing Persons Divison have been assisting in the search for Treger, Ludwig said.
She has also hired private guides to help look for her child.
‘It’s been a real challenge finding information,’ Ludwig stated.
A police alert has described Treger as 5’10”, white, with blond hair and blue eyes. He also has small tattoos that feature two pairs of whale sharks on his right calf.
Anyone with information on Treger has been urged to call the Peruvian authorities or Ludwig directly.
A police alert has described Treger as 5’10”, white, with blond hair and blue eyes. He also has small tattoos that feature two pairs of whale sharks on his right calf
She has also launched a GoFundMe to help raise money for her efforts.
‘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,’ she wrote.
As of Tuesday evening, more than $26,000 had been raised.
A local site at Collierstown Presbyterian Church is also collecting donations, per the outlet.
Treger grew up in Effinger, Virginia, where he was a Boy Scout, and eventually an Eagle Scout.
Treger grew up in Effinger, Virginia, where he was a Boy Scout, and eventually an Eagle Scout, his mothe said
He obtained a Wilderness First Aid certification while attending colleged at Washington and Lee, she told the publication.
During his senior year, he led one of the school’s Appalachian Adventure trips before graduating in 2020.
‘He loves the outdoors and prefers to be away from crowds and the destinations popular with tourists. He is as comfortable hiking with friends as he is adventuring alone,’ she added.
Breaking news… updates to follow.