NJ hiker freezes to death while hiking New York’s highest peak – despite calling 911 for help

Posted For: Hauviette

A 21-year-old outdoor enthusiast from New Jersey tragically died after slipping on a trail while hiking New York’s tallest peak with her dog, officials said Wednesday. Rescuers spent more than six hours searching in bitter single-digit temperatures before finding her.

Brianna Mohr, known for sharing striking Instagram photos from remote adventures, called 911 around 3 p.m. Thursday while clinging to the side of Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks, New York State Police reported.

Rescuers from the ground and a police helicopter searched the 5,300-foot mountain, but dense cloud cover made spotting her difficult. She was located after 9 p.m., by which time she had succumbed to hypothermia. Her dog was unharmed.

Mohr’s dog was found uninjured. Instagram/Brianna Mohr

Temperatures in nearby Keene, New York, ranged from -8 to 20 degrees that day, according to AccuWeather. Forest rangers used snowmobiles in the search, while police coordinated aerial efforts.

Mohr’s mother, Stephanie West, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook on Valentine’s Day, the same day her daughter’s autopsy was completed. “I am so lost,” she wrote, accompanied by a broken-heart emoji.

Before the accident, Mohr documented her travels to rugged and remote locations, including Death Valley in California, Yellowstone, Mount Washington in New Hampshire, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Moosehead Lake in Maine, and Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Fans praised her wildlife photography, with one commenting on a 2023 Acadia National Park selfie, “Pretty lil mountain lady!!!!”

Brianna Mohr graduated from Brick Memorial High School in 2022. Instagram/Brianna Mo

Her Instagram account, described with just a mountain and heart emoji, had around 750 followers.

Mohr graduated from Brick Memorial High School in 2022. Her brother, Ryan, shared a poignant message Monday, calling her “the best friend and sister I could have ever asked for” and adding, “You are the reason I am the person I am….I love you forever Bri. Rest in peace.”