Missing Kazakh woman's backpack found.

Monday 5 Jan. 09 1600 hrs. Latest update from NZPA.

Searchers looking for missing Auckland tramper Irina Yun have discovered her backpack -- dampening hopes of finding her alive.

The pack was found in the Dart River, about 300m downstream of the Dart Hut, which was Ms Yun's intended destination after leaving Mount Aspiring Hut last Wednesday, The Press reported.

Three ground search teams and two helicopters took advantage of a break in the weather this morning to carry on their search.

Gary Dickson, an alpine rescue leader involved in the search, said the discovery of the pack was "not encouraging".

Bad weather has dictated how often search teams have been able to make it into the rugged area to look for the lone woman tramper who has been missing in the National Park since New Years Eve.

The 36-year-old left Mt Aspiring Hut at 7am on Wednesday to cross the Cascade Saddle and was last seen 2-1/2 hours later halfway between the bush line and a spot near the saddle.

She did not arrive at Dart Hut as planned.

Bad weather has hampered the search for Ms Yun, who has lived in New Zealand since coming here five years ago from the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan.

She climbed in the mountains of her homeland and has visited Mt Aspiring National Park once before.

She left her four-year-old daughter in Auckland where her former partner lives and travelled alone to the South Island on Christmas Day.

Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, the Wanaka police search and rescue controller, said the area where she could have been had now been searched. End of NZPA report.

This is a worrying sign. You never cross a river without your pack. Is she still down or upstream looking for a crossing? Where is she ? Let's keep hoping. praying and waiting.

Bob

Will they find Irina Yun alive today ? I am very hopeful. Monday 5 January 2009

Missing tramper's daughter Liann, 4, waits for her Mother

This morning I received a comment from Irina Yun's ex-parttner Oleg.

She is not Uzbek - she is what we call a "Russian Korean". Her grandparents were expelled from Korean border into Kazakhi desert in winter by Chairman Stalin 70 years ago. And they survived there - with no shelters at all!

Oleg
(her ex-partner)

Here is an extract from the New Zealand Herald that gives an insight into what her family are going through.


"I feel she is frightened, but still alive," said Oleg Amiton, Yun's ex-partner.

The mood was sombre but hopeful at Yun's house in Laingholm, West Auckland, yesterday, where Amiton was keeping vigil with their 4-year-old daughter, Liann

Amiton will fly to Queenstown today (that was yesterday, Sunday 4th) to help the search team.

Yun was last seen on Wednesday, after she left Mt Aspiring Hut in the morning to cross the Cascade Saddle. She did not arrive at the Dart Hut that evening as planned.



A photograph of Irina Yun on an earlier trip in the same region.

Amiton said Yun - an artist, photographer and web designer - was an experienced tramper and not one to give up easily.

"She is over-confident. As far as I know, she would not turn back."

Yun was experienced in alpine sports in her native Kazakhstan. New Zealand's reputation for outdoor pursuits was one of the reasons she moved here five years ago, said Amiton. A year ago, the couple tramped the Dart track, the area where Yun is now missing.

Amiton had spoken to Yun's family, who live in the Kazakh city of Almaty.

"They are worried, but they're a very traditional Asian family; they don't really express their feelings that much."

Amiton praised the close-knit West Auckland community for their help since Yun had been missing. "The community here is very supportive," said Amiton, who is separated from Yun.

He said friends were going to care for Liann as he headed to Queenstown.

Today I am hopeful search parties will find evidence of her whereabouts and I hope and pray she is alive. She has much in her favour. As Oleg says, "Her grandparents were expelled from Korean border into Kazakhi desert in winter by Chairman Stalin 70 years ago. And they survived there - with no shelters at all!"
Genetics are a big factor and her background as a highly-trained yoga specialist, gives her that strength of mind which will aid her survival.

In 1996-99 and for many holidays thereafter, I lived in Kazakhstan, and used to climb with the hardy climbing fraterity that included the famous Anatoly Boukreev, who climbed Mt. Everest a number of times. Knowing that she used to live in Almaty, I am sure she is one of this tough breed of Kazakh mountaineers.

I am scanning the net and listening to the radio for news. Join me in praying for her safe delivery, and if you don't believe in this, spare a few encouraging thoughts for her survival.