A camera belonging to a hiker missing for 13 days in the rugged Australian Alps has been found as police remain hopeful he's still alive.
Hadi Nazari, 23, has not been seen since he began descending the challenging Hannels Spur track in Kosciuszko National Park about 2.30pm on Boxing Day.
He initially set out with a small water bottle, tent, sleeping bag and his camera but failed to meet up with friends at Geehi campgrounds.
As the search approaches a third week, police revealed they found Mr Nazari's camera, camera case and a campfire area on Sunday.
The search has intensified in the region where the items were discovered and it is the first sign of Mr Nazari since discarded rubbish and hiking poles were located on New Year's Eve.
On Tuesday, the multi-agency rescue effort included searchers crawling through dense bush in search of any extra signs of the hiker's whereabouts.
Multiple helicopters patrolled the clear blue skies, flying above what is regarded as one of Australia’s most difficult bushwalking routes due to its 1800m elevation change.
"We're very hopeful (he's still alive) and we'll continue the search until we're very comfortable that we've done everything that we possibly can," Superintendent Andrew Spliet told reporters at Geehi on Tuesday.
"He's got access to water, that's the reason we're still out here."
The poles were found about 4km from Geehi campground along a creek but the latest discovery was made some distance away over a mountain spur, Supt Spliet said.
Analysis of the fire is ongoing to determine when it was lit.
"He's obviously moving around, no doubt, trying to get where his bearings are and so forth," Supt Spliet said.
"He's got a history of hiking around the place, so he is aware of these surrounds and he has got some capability to protect himself from the elements."
More than 300 people have been involved in the search including friends and family.
The search has also involved the state's National Parks and Wildlife Service as well as volunteers, battling heat and humidity in the rugged terrain in a bid to find Mr Nazari.
Efforts have included specially trained searchers camping overnight and other experts being winched in by aircraft to more quickly access hard-to-reach parts of the park.
Steep terrain, mixed with thick bushland and growth, was making for an uncomfortable search but everyone remained supportive, actively engaged and upbeat, police said.
The trail was once a training ground for Australian mountaineers and takes a similar path to that of Polish explorer Pawel Strzelecki when he became the first European to climb and name Kosciusko in 1840.
