Investigators Have Only Theories On How Missouri Mountain Hikers Died

DENVER (CBS4) - Investigators say they may never know for sure what happened to a father and daughter who died hiking a Colorado 14er, but they now have three theories.

The two died while hiking the Missouri Gulch Trail near Missouri Mountain in Chaffee County earlier this month. Searchers found the bodies of Dr. Michael Von Gortler and Makana Von Gortler after eight days of looking.

Chaffee County Sheriff Pete Palmer told CBS4 they almost certainly fell simultaneously. He said the two probably plunged about 1,000 feet on a 60 percent grade.

Investigators have developed three theories on what may have happened. They may have been standing on a cornice of snow that gave way; they may have slipped; or less likely, they may have been blown off the mountain by high wind.

Lightning was not likely since weather records show no lightning in the entire state the day they died.