The bodies of 20-year-old Makana Von Gortler, and her 53-year-old father Michael, were found 1 mile from the summit of Missouri Mountain on the northeast side, 500 feet above the main trail. The bodies were found about 5 days after the two were reported missing by family members.

Michael and Makana set out on June 22, 2011 for Missouri Mountain, traversing the Missouri Gulch Trail - about 3 miles from Missouri Mountain - and died sometime between June 22nd, and June 27th. Chaffee County’s coroner conducted an autopsy; results indicated that both Makana and her father Michael died from blunt trauma injuries to the head and neck; the injuries came from some type of fall. The County coroner said that they, "...can’t determine what time of day the fall [happened] and that it may never be clear the details surrounding the fall."

Search and rescuers covered 800 square miles attempting to locate the two, and spotted their bodies while a helicopter was dropping off two search teams.