Bodies of missing doctor von Gortler and daughter found in the wilderness

The bodies of the missing doctor and his 20-year-old daughter who disappeared while hiking in the mountains are believed to have been found. 

The two bodies were found about one mile from the summit of the Missouri mountain and authorities believe 'with high confidence' that they belong to Dr Michael von Gortler, 53, and Makana von Gortler.

Chaffee County Sheriff Pete Palmer told the Boulder Daily Camera that the bodies were about 500 feet above the main trail.

An autopsy will be carried out today to disce how they died.

Rescue crews deployed a helicopter to recover the bodies from a steep, grassy area.

Makana is said to have loved going hiking with her father

The pair were last heard from on June 21 when Makana text her boyfriend to tell him she was going hiking up the Missouri mountain with her father. They were due to retu on June 23.

Dr von Gortler was due to work in the emergency room at a hospital in Boulder on Sunday.

He often went hiking in the mountains and was known to go off the beaten track but always carried emergency equipment with him.

Makana von Gortler's mother, Melani Holton, called the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday to report them missing.

The 20-year-old recently graduated from Boulder High with honours.

In an interview last week, Ms Holton said her daughter loved animals and hoped to be a veterinarian. She was also president of the tango club at CU.

Her aunt Suzanne Kutz told the Daily Camera she was a kind and lovable person.

'She never didn't have a smile on her face. In the 20 years I knew her she never said one negative thing about anyone. If she ran across someone mean, she would say, "They were missing out on the joy of life".'

Makana von Gortler loved to hike, and her father took her on these trips since was a small child, Ms Holton said.

Prepared: Dr von Gortler is known to be an experienced hiker who always takes an emergency kit with him