ARCHULETA COUNTY, COLORADO: Rich Moore was a 71-year-old man from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, who loved hiking and his dog Finney.
He went missing on August 19, 2023, after he set out to climb Blackhead Peak, a mountain near his home.
His body was found more than two months later by a hunter, with his faithful dog still by his side.
A tragic end to a long search for missing Rich Moore
Moore’s disappearance sparked a massive search effort by the Taos Search and Rescue (TSR) team, who used a helicopter to access the steep and rugged terrain.
Despite their efforts, they couldn't find Moore or his dog, leading to the eventual cancellation of the search.
Nevertheless, Moore's friends and family persisted in their search for him, praying for his safe return.
One of his friends, Ladona Wills, posted on Facebook in August, asking for help and prayers.
She wrote, “My friend Rich Moore and his dog Finney are missing from Pagosa Springs, Colorado. They went missing on August 19th from a remote hiking area outside of Pagosa Springs."
She added, "SAR efforts have been called off and friends and family are now searching. To all my Colorado friends and anyone passing through the area, please keep an eye out for them."
"Rich is an experienced hiker and Finney is a powerful and well-behaved dog so it’s not understood how this happened. Please pray for them and their family,” she concluded.
Finney dog: A loyal companion until the end who watched over Rich Moore's body for six weeks
On October 30, 2023, a hunter in the Rio Blanco drainage, about 2.5 miles east of Blackhead Peak, stumbled upon Moore’s body and his dog Finney, who was still alive and with him, Denver Gazette reported.
The sheriff’s office said a search and rescue team was flown into the area by helicopter to locate and recover Mr Moore’s body on 31 October, a day after it was discovered.
The 14-year-old Finney the Jack Russell terrier is thought to have stayed with his owner for seven weeks, surviving the harsh conditions and the threat of predators.
The hunter notified the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office, who confirmed Moore’s identity and took Finney to a veterinary hospital for treatment.
The dog was later reunited with Moore’s family. The cause of Moore’s death has not been determined yet.
The family finally has some closure
TSR member Delinda Vanne-Brightyn, who was part of the initial search for Moore with her certified search dog sent her condolences to the family and the team.
She expressed relief, stating that they were pleased to find some closure and reunite with their dog at home.
She explained, “It was so steep, we were inserted in by a helicopter. He was found 2.5 miles East of the mountaintop beneath where we were inserted.”
"We searched from just under the peak-top and directly west, searching down the mountain toward where his car was located," Vanne-Brightyn wrote.
Blackhead Peak is a 12,500-foot mountain on the western boundary of the South San Juan Wilderness in Archuleta County.
