California man dies after he was injured on Katahdin hike, officials say
MILLINOCKET, Maine —
Baxter State Park officials have shared the name of the man who died after he was injured while hiking Katahdin last week.
Bert Peter Goris, 64, of Colton, California, was pronounced dead after he was airlifted off Maine’s tallest mountain on Monday, Sept. 14.
Officials said that at about 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 14, the Houlton Regional Communication Center received a 911 call reporting an injured and incapacitated hiker on the Hunt Trail, near York Valley.
Baxter State Park rangers were able to get in contact with the 911 caller, a hiker who said they encountered Goris lying on the trail with an apparent leg injury. The 911 caller told park rangers that Goris was struggling to speak and that he was unable to move around well.
The hiker who came across Goris said he provided immediate first aid by wrapping Goris up in a sleeping bag, emergency blanket and tarp and providing him with a tent, according to officials.
Officials said the weather conditions on the mountain were severe, with winds gusting over 35 mph and wind chill temperatures near 20 degrees Fahrenheit. There was also periodic rain and cloud cover.
The hiker who called 911 began descending the mountain at about 2 p.m. due to the risk of rapid-onset hypothermia, officials said.
At 2:35 p.m., a second 911 call came in from another hiker who had provided Goris with an additional sleeping bag before they needed to leave due to harsh weather conditions.
Park rangers launched an immediate rescue effort, deploying teams from the Abol and Chimney Pond campgrounds. A Maine Army National Guard crew in Bangor also responded and, at about 4:40 p.m., the Guard’s Black Hawk helicopter was able to land near York Valley on the tablelands of Katahdin.
Army National Guard crew members and three park rangers secured Goris on a stretcher and airlifted him off the mountain. The helicopter then flew Goris to Millinocket Municipal Airport, where a local ambulance crew assessed his condition. Emergency medical personnel connected Goris to medical equipment and ultimately pronounced him dead.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta is working to officially determine Goris’ cause of death.
Timeline of hiker’s Katahdin trip
Officials said Baxter State Park law enforcement rangers established that Goris walked into the park at the Abol Kiosk on Sunday, Sept. 13. He registered as a northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hiker at Katahdin Stream Campground and stayed overnight at The Birches Campground.
At about 7:40 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, Goris signed the Hunt Trail register and indicated he was hiking alone to the summit of Katahdin and would hike down via the Abol Trail.
According to officials, witnesses confirmed that Goris reached the summit. Investigators said that while Goris was descending the mountain along the Hunt Trail, he stopped beside the trail and asked a passing hiker about directions to the Abol Trail. The hiker directed Goris toward the Abol Trail and spoke with him about wearing additional clothing over his wet shorts and long-sleeved shirt. The hiker told investigators they had to leave the mountain because of the weather conditions. Officials said the first 911 calls were made shortly after this interaction.
Safety advisory
Baxter State Park officials are urging all visitors to remember that weather conditions on Katahdin’s tableland can deteriorate more rapidly than conditions at base campgrounds.
Hikers must ensure they have appropriate winter-grade clothing, gear, emergency shelter, food and water before attempting to summit Katahdin, officials said.