Rich Moore, 71, from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, started his hike with his dog, Finney, on August 19, 2023. Their destination was the summit of Blackhead Peak.

Moore, with the 14-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, failed to return, triggering an extensive search and rescue mission that continued for several months.

Nearly two and a half months after Moore went missing, his body was discovered on October 30, 2023, by a local hunter. The location was the Lower Blanco drainage basin, a remote area southeast of Blackhead Peak in Colorado’s San Juan National Forest. Remarkably, Moore’s dog, Finney, was found alive, loyally by his side.

After her discovery, Finney received medical attention at a veterinary hospital and has been reunited with Moore’s family.

The effort to find Moore and Finney encompassed a challenging search operation of nearly 2,000 hours, over tough terrains. This endeavor saw the participation of various agencies and volunteers.

The police have yet to release an official cause of death for Moore, and no foul play is suspected.

Chaffee County Search and Rescue North noted that Moore was not adequately equipped for his hike. He made it to the top of a 13,000-foot peak with just a cotton sweatshirt, and without sufficient food and water. His dog managed to survive by hunting small animals and remained close to Moore.