A hiker from Illinois is dead after a fall at Linville Gorge in the western North Carolina mountains, according to local officials. News outlets report that Burke County Emergency Management officials received a call midday Thursday for an injured hiker off Rock Jock Trail in the gorge. Sign up for our Newsletters Click the video player above to watch headlines from WXII 12 News. More than three hours later, rescuers found Michael Ryva dead. The.