Bert Peter Goris Obituary, Maine Mount Katahdin Death: Appalachian Trail Hiker Dies After Tragic Mountain Incident

Bert Peter Goris, 64, of Colton, California, is being remembered following his death on Mount Katahdin in Maine after he became incapacitated while descending the mountain during severe weather conditions on September 14, 2026.

Goris was registered with Baxter State Park as a northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hiker. Park officials said he stayed at The Birches campground on September 13 before beginning his solo ascent the following morning. He signed the Hunt Trail register at approximately 7:40 a.m., indicating plans to reach the summit and descend via the Abol Trail.

Witnesses told park officials that Goris successfully reached the summit. During his descent, he reportedly stopped on the Hunt Trail near York Valley and asked another hiker for directions toward the Abol Trail. He was wearing wet shorts and a long-sleeved shirt, and the hiker encouraged him to put on additional clothing before continuing.

The first emergency call was placed around 1:15 p.m. after another hiker found Goris having difficulty speaking and unable to move effectively, with what appeared to be a leg injury. Two hikers attempted to shelter and warm him with sleeping bags, an emergency blanket, tarp and tent, but severe conditions forced them to descend. Wind gusts exceeded 35 mph, while the wind chill was around 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Baxter State Park launched a rescue operation involving park rangers and the Maine Army National Guard. A Black Hawk helicopter reached the Katahdin Tableland at about 4:40 p.m., and rescuers transported Goris to Millinocket Airport. He was pronounced dead after the helicopter arrived.

Although officials have tentatively identified the deceased hiker as Goris, the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had not yet formally confirmed his identity or determined the cause and manner of death as of the latest reports. Authorities therefore have not officially attributed his death to hypothermia, the reported leg injury or any other specific medical cause.

Goris’s death has drawn renewed attention to the rapidly changing conditions on Katahdin, particularly during Maine’s shoulder seasons. Baxter State Park continues to urge hikers attempting the summit to carry appropriate cold-weather clothing, emergency shelter, food and water.