Brianna Mohr died from exposure to the cold after slipping during a hike on Mount Marcy. Photo: Katelyn Svenson//GoFundMe//@northcountry144//Instagram
A 21-year-old hiker tragically passed away last week while hiking in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
The hiker, identified as Brianna Mohr of Brick, New Jersey, called 911 for help at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, after slipping near the summit of the 5,344-foot Mount Marcy. She reportedly was unable to get back on the trail after the fall on the state’s highest peak.
Rescuers began the search for Mohr with ground and air teams. Two forest rangers were unable to find her with the state park helicopter due to cloud cover. As a result, one of the rangers was dropped onto the ground to assist the effort at 6:06 p.m. That rescuer on the ground had to approach from 5.1 miles away and 3,000 feet less elevation than where Mohr was in distress near the mountain’s peak.
The ranger reached Mohr at 9:51 p.m. – nearly seven hours after the initial call for help – to discover that she had already passed away. The body was recovered when conditions improved the following day.
According to the Adirondack Explorer, the autopsy report released on Tuesday revealed that Mohr died of hypothermia and not directly from trauma related to the fall.
Lake Placid’s nearby New York State Mesonet weather station, located at 2,018 feet, well below the elevation of the peak where Mohr fell, registered temperatures in the teens (Fahrenheit) when the accident took place. Temperatures fell to around zero in the evening with wind chill.
The snow depth at Lake Colden Interior Outpost cabin, about three miles west of the peak, was measured at 49 inches. The snow at the higher elevations on the peak was likely even more, creating dangerous conditions, especially in steep terrain.
Mohr’s dog, which joined her on the hike, was recovered alive. Text from the family’s GoFundMe page appears to indicate that she was hiking alone.
“(Brianna) had traveled to 48 out of the 50 states by her 20th birthday and hiked several national parks,” the fundraiser says. “She lived to see the world, was a beautiful artist, and a beautiful soul. Her smile could light up any room she walked into.”
“Our hearts are broken, and we are asking for help as we navigate the days ahead, planning her funeral and celebrating her life the way she would have wanted,” it continues.
It’s unclear what equipment Mohr brought on the hike, but the tragedy serves as a reminder to pack the 10 essentials when heading out into the backcountry.
