Woman, 21, freezes to death with dog by her side after calling for help

Brianna Mohr, 21, died of hypothermia on Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks after calling for help. Rescuers took six hours to locate her, but her dog survived

A 21 year old woman tragically froze to death on a mountain trail with her devoted dog by her side – despite managing to contact emergency services for assistance.

Brianna Mohr, 21, was a passionate hiker who regularly embarked on isolated expeditions with her beloved pet. It’s believed she lost her footing and tumbled whilst on a trek.

She contacted emergency services last Thursday (February 12) , following the accident on an elevated summit in the Adirondacks, northeastern New York State.

She placed the call at 3pm but it took rescue teams six hours to find her, by which point she had succumbed to hypothermia, New York State police confirmed today (February 18), reports the Mirror.

Temperatures in the vicinity of Mount Marcy, the tallest summit in the mountain range, ranged between -22C (-8f) and -6C (20f) that day, according to local meteorological data.

Forest rangers and emergency teams desperately combed the 5,300-foot summit on snowmobiles whilst police took to the skies in a helicopter in a bid to trace Brianna.

Unfortunately, cloud coverage prevented officers from spotting her from above and by the time rescue workers discovered her it was too late, with only her dog having endured the bitter conditions.

Brianna’s heartbroken mother, Stephanie West, shared a photograph tribute to her daughter on Valentine’s Day – the day her post-mortem examination was concluded.

“I am so lost,” she posted on Facebook alongside a broken-heart emoji. Brianna was an avid outdoor enthusiast whose social media showcased her adventures across America’s most challenging wilderness areas.

She chronicled expeditions spanning from Death Valley, California, to Yellowstone, always accompanied by her faithful canine companion, the New York Post reports.

Additional demanding natural locations she explored included Mount Washington in New Hampshire, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Moosehead Lake in Maine and Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

Her Instagram profile, featuring just a mountain and heart emoji in the bio, boasted approximately 750 followers as of Wednesday.

On Monday, Brianna’s brother Ryan posted a devastating tribute to her, writing: “You were the best friend and sister I could have ever asked for,” according to Asbury Park Press. “You are the reason I am the person I am….I love you forever Bri. Rest in peace.”

New York State Police issued a statement: “On February 12, 2026, at approximately 3:00 p.m., New York State Forest Rangers were notified of a hiker and her dog in distress on Mount Marcy. Forest Rangers were deployed and began an extensive search.

“At approximately 9:00 p.m., Forest Rangers located Brianna L. Mohr, age 21, of Brick, NJ, along with her dog. Mohr was showing no signs of life and was pronounced deceased near the summit of Mount Marcy. The dog was uninjured and rescued.

“New York State Police and the Essex County Coroner’s Office were notified of the incident.

“An autopsy was scheduled for February 14, 2026, at Glens Falls Hospital and was conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Sikirica. The cause of death was determined to be hypothermia.”

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