Rich Moore’s body was found after two months, with his dog still alive by his side (Picture: Facebook)
More than two months after going missing, the body of a hiker has been discovered – with his loyal dog still by his side.
Rich Moore, 71, disappeared with dog Finney on August 19 when they set off to Blackhead Peak, in southwestern Colorado.
A helicopter team initially searched for Rich after he was reported missing, scouring an area from where his car was parked towards the summit – but he was not found.
A hunter discovered his body in a valley southeast of the summit on October 30, with Finney still waiting by his owner’s side.
The sheriff’s office and local police recovered Rich’s body and took little Finney to the vet for treatment.
The hiking route is three miles with an elevation of 2,500 feet – and was described as ‘rough, rocky and steep’, according to The Mercury News.
The hiking trail starts on a road, but the last stretch is an unmaintained ‘social trail.’
Rich’s body was found in a valley east of the summit (Picture: Instagram)
His cause of death has not yet been determined (Picture: Facebook)
Loyal dog Finney was taken to a vet and has been reunited with family (Picture: Facebook)
A member of the search and rescue squad, Delinda Vanne-Brightyn, said on Facebook: ‘We searched from just under the peak-top and directly west, searching down the mountain toward where his car was located.
‘He was found 2.5 miles east of the mountain-top beneath where we were inserted by helicopter.’
Rich’s cause of death has not been released, but officials said foul play is not suspected.
It’s unknown how his small dog stayed alive for two months, but the pup has been reunited with his family.
Another dog survived perilous conditions in the Welsh mountains for two weeks after going missing during a walk.
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Rich Moore, 71, disappeared with his dog Finney on August 19.