Police are searching for a missing hiker in Victoria’s north-west who failed to return to his group a day after embarking upon a solo hike.
Andy, 25, had been camping with 14 other people in the Murray-Sunset National Park but separated from them to hike a nearby track towards the South Australian border yesterday at about 11am.
The Shearers Quarters camping area is located within the Murray-Sunset National Park in Victoria’s north-west. (Source: Google Maps)
Police said he was due to return to the Shearers Quarters camping area to leave with the group today but failed to return from his hike.
Authorities are now searching the area for Andy with help from the Air Wing, Dog Squad, Mounted Branch, Search and Rescue Squad officers and the State Emergency Service.
There are concerns for the 25-year-old man’s welfare due to his inexperience in hiking and the period of time he has been missing.
Andy was last seen leaving Shearers Quarters camping area to complete the 8-kilometre Millewa South Bore Track nearby. (Source: Parks Victoria)
Andy is described as being of Asian appearance, 173 centimetres tall with a slim build and was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, grey trackpants, black steel-cap boots and carrying a black backpack.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Mildura Police Station.
Guides say conditions could disorientate hikers
Peter Kelly owns the Murray Offroad Adventures tour company with his wife, taking campers on expeditions through the Murray Sunset National Park.
He described the terrain surrounding the Shearers Quarters as “open woodlands” that were not inherently dangerous, but cloudy conditions could disorientate hikers.
“The sun is your best sense of providing a direction in the landscape, but [when it’s] cloudy it’s really hard to tell which way you’re going once you’ve got bush all around you,” Mr Kelly said.
Offroad Adventures owner Peter Kelly says it’s rare for hikers to get lost in that part of the national park. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)
He said hikers “very seldom” get lost in that section of the park and was hopeful police would find Andy by the end of Sunday.
“If you’re sticking to the track, you’re going to turn up somewhere sooner or later,” Mr Kelly said.
“When they’re stumbling through the bush … once you hit a track, you’re probably not going to deviate off it.”