2 men rescued from Katahdin after becoming trapped in severe thunderstorm

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 25, 2026

Two men, Dakota Cunningham, 35, of Richmond, Virginia, and Sean Rowan, 35, of Chesterfield, Virginia, were cleared to climb Katahdin and left the Chimney Pond Campground at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Conditions worsened during their ascent, and by 2 p.m., they were confronted with a severe thunderstorm, according to Baxter State Park Director Kevin Adam. The hikers were caught in the storm on a section of the mountain known as the “Flat Iron,” which is a difficult climb even for expert hikers. As the storm worsened into rain, hail, high winds and lighting, Cunningham and Rowan became hypothermic and dehydrated. At around 6:45 a.m. Thursday morning, the Maine Army National Guard search crew located the hikers, and airlifted them off the mountain. They were taken to the Millinocket Regional Hospital for necessary treatment.