Man carries his dog down Pikes Peak for ‘many miles’ before rescue, officials say

A furry and friendly hiker was rescued with his owner after getting stuck on a popular a Colorado mountain.

According to a Facebook post from El Paso County Search and Rescue, officials helped rescue a dog and his owner after the duo wandered around, trying to get back to their car. The dog, Roland, was carried by his owner for “many miles” before rescuers stepped in to help, the post said.

Roland and his owner were “extremely grateful” for the help, officials said, sharing a picture of the happy dog seated comfortably in a rescue carrier.

The trail they were on — Barr Trail on Pikes Peak — makes for a notoriously difficult trek, Out There Colorado reported. The hike is 24 miles round-trip and leads climbers to ascend 7,600 feet, the outlet reported.

The two received help from rescuers when they reached the Barr Camp area, about 6.5 miles from the trailhead, according to the Facebook post. Commenters commended rescuers for helping out, with one noting that “Roland enjoyed the attention.”

Hikers accompanied by pets could face any number of issues while on a trail, Out There Colorado reported. Those issues could include dogs becoming exhausted, sustaining paw injuries, or simply refusing to move.

Hikers who want to bring their four-legged friends along should be prepared for the possibilities, the outlet said.

This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 12:21 PM.