Hiker Found Dead on Katahdin Was Reportedly an AT Thru-Hiker

A hiker who died on Katahdin amid severe weather on September 14 has been tentatively identified as Bert Peter Goris, a 64-year-old Appalachian Trail thru-hiker from Colton, California.

Goris was reportedly still alive when the first of two 911 calls came in about an incapacitated hiker on the Hunt Trail, according to Baxter State Park officials. Park Director Kevin Adam told Bangor Daily News (BDN) on Monday that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet officially confirmed his identity, and his cause of death is still pending.

Goris had registered with the park as a thru-hiker. He spent the night of September 13 at the Birches campsite, and reportedly signed the Hunt Trail register as a solo thru-hiker around 7:40 a.m. on September 14.

According to Bangor Daily News, witnesses said Goris reached the summit of Katahdin, the Appalachian Trail’s northern terminus, and was on his way down. His register entry indicated he planned to ascend via the Hunt Trail and descend via the Abol Trail, and a passing hiker told park officials Goris had asked him for directions to the Abol Trail while descending.

The First 911 Call Received

The hiker who spoke with Goris on his descent observed him wearing wet shorts and a long-sleeved shirt and advised him to layer up; the hiker then had to leave due to the weather conditions.

Soon after, according to Baxter State Park, the Houlton Regional Communication Center received a 911 call at 1:15 p.m. with a report of an injured hiker on the Hunt Trail. The caller described a male hiker with a leg injury lying on the trail who was having trouble speaking and moving. They also reported having wrapped the injured hiker in a sleeping bag, emergency blanket, tarp, and a tent.

Extreme Conditions on Katahdin

At the time, Katahdin was experiencing severe weather with bursts of rain and wind gusts of over 35 miles per hour. Reportedly, the wind chill hovered around 20° Fahrenheit. Due to the risk of hypothermia, the original reporting hiker descended from Katahdin around 2 p.m.

Shortly after, a second 911 call was placed by another hiker, who gave the injured hiker an additional sleeping bag before they were also forced to hike down.

A Coordinated Rescue Attempt

Teams gathered at Abol Campground and Chimney Pond Campground to begin an immediate search and rescue effort. Additionally, the Maine Army National Guard deployed a Blackhawk helicopter and landed on Katahdin’s Tableland, an alpine plateau offering zero tree cover or natural wind protection, despite the severe weather.

Baxter State Park rangers hiked up the mountain, reached Goris on the Hunt Trail, and assisted him to the waiting helicopter on the Tableland. Goris was airlifted to the Millinocket Airport, where he was pronounced deceased.

Staying Safe on Katahdin in the Shoulder Season

Conditions on Katahdin can change rapidly, especially in shoulder season. September and October can bring sudden alpine icing, freezing rain, and sub-freezing wind chills to the mountain that can quickly lead to life-threatening hypothermia. Baxter State Park  advises hikers to have appropriate winter-grade clothing, emergency shelter, food, and water readily accessible before attempting to summit Katahdin.

Official identification and a cause of death are pending from Maine’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The Trek extends our sincerest condolences and thoughts to Goris’ family, friends, and the entire Appalachian Trail community, as well as to the hikers and rescue personnel who attempted to help him.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons