EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KXRM) — On Sunday, June 15, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office requested the community's help in finding a 55-year-old missing man named Russel Hardy, last seen in the Colorado Springs area.

Hardy is described as being 5'11" tall and 230 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and a black LL Bean backpack.

According to EPSO, Hardy traveled from New Hampshire to Colorado Springs on Tuesday, June 10, intending to hike Pikes Peak. He rented a gray 2025 Toyota RAV4, with a Colorado license plate numbered DXD T30, and was scheduled to return home on Thursday, June 12.

EPSO stated that his family reported him missing on Friday, June 13, and they have not seen him or heard from him since.

The Toyota was found at the Crags Trailhead, and a photo posted on social media suggested Hardy may have been in the area of either Crystal Creek Reservoir or Crags Trailhead.

Search and Rescue teams from El Paso and Teller Counties are conducting search operations in the surrounding areas.

Anyone with information about Hardy's location is urged to contact EPSO at (719) 390-5555.