21-Year-Old Brianna Mohr Tragically Passed Away During a Hike

She made one phone call from the top of New York's highest mountain with her voice carrying across miles of ice and wind. But by the time rescuers reached her, the silence had already taken over.

Brianna L. Mohr, a 21-year-old from Brick, New Jersey, set out to hike Mount Marcy on February 12, 2026, with her dog by her side. Unfortunately, what began as a winter adventure quickly spiraled into a frantic race against time.

A Call That Changed Everything

Mount Marcy is not just another scenic trail. Rising 5,343 feet above the Adirondacks, it is the tallest peak in New York and widely regarded as especially dangerous during the winter months.

On that February afternoon, the conditions were unforgiving. Snow covered the ground, temperatures hovered well below freezing, and there was little protection from the wind.

Sadly, those conditions ruined this young woman's hike.

At 3:05 p.m., Mohr placed a call that would set an enormous rescue effort into motion. According to the Asbury Park Press, she told dispatchers she had slipped off the trail near the summit and could not climb back to it.

She was stranded and the only companion beside her was her dog.

Looking for Brianna Mohr

The New York State Forest Rangers received the alert from the hiker and immediately went into action. In a statement from the New York State Police, officials said rangers were deployed and began an extensive search.

Rescue teams advanced up the mountain using snowmobiles and a tracked utility vehicle. At the same time, the New York State Police Aviation Unit launched a helicopter, anticipating that a hoist rescue might be possible.

For a brief window, there was reason to believe she would be located quickly. Then the weather acted up again.

When The Sky Closed In

Clouds thickened over the peak and visibility dropped. According to People, this "heavy cloud cover" prevented the rangers in the helicopter from spotting her from above.

Without clear visibility, the aerial search could not continue effectively. One ranger was lowered to the ground at 6:06 p.m. at the Marcy Dam Outpost to continue the search on foot.

But by then, daylight was fading. The temperature in nearby Keene ranged from eight degrees below zero to 20 degrees that day, and the summit would have felt even colder.

Each passing hour reduced the margin for survival.

Still, the ranger pressed on through the dark, navigating snow-covered terrain and steep sections near the summit. The mission had shifted from a rapid extraction to a desperate ground search in worsening conditions.

Shortly before 10 p.m., at approximately 9:51 p.m., the ranger located Mohr near the summit. Sadly, she was showing no signs of life and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The only silver lining in this tragedy was that her dog was found alive and uninjured and was safely rescued from the mountain.

The Final Determination

Harsh weather conditions delayed the recovery of Mohr's body until early the following day, when a helicopter lowered two rangers to the site.

An autopsy was conducted on February 14 at Glens Falls Hospital by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Sikirica. Authorities determined that the cause of death was hypothermia.

After slipping off the trail and becoming stranded near the summit, she had been exposed to extreme cold for hours. In subzero temperatures, the body can lose heat rapidly, especially at high elevation with wind exposure.

As the official findings brought clarity, they also deepened the heartbreak waiting back home.

Remembering Brianna Mohr

In the days that followed, the grief poured out across social media from those who knew and loved her.

On February 14, her mother, Stephanie West, shared a photo of herself with her daughter and wrote, "I am so lost 😭💔" in a post on Facebook. The short message captured a pain that did not need elaboration.

Two days later, her brother Ryan posted a lengthy tribute on Instagram, parts of which were later reported by the Asbury Park Press.

"Dear Bri, I never thought I would have to do this but I just want to say you were the best friend and sister I could have ever asked for," he wrote, remembering how she helped shape the person he became.

He called her "the coolest person I know" and thanked her for always being there when he needed advice or even just a ride to the job she helped him get. He then added:

"When we meet again we will pick up right where we left off, I love you forever Bri. Rest in peace."

One of her friends also shared a memory. On February 17, Jennifer Applegate-Schwester wrote, "Had some sad news confirmed today. I was fortunate to have traveled with Bri Mohr on an adventure to Québec/Montréal in June of 2019. Bless you and wishing you peace."

Through their words, a fuller picture emerged of a young woman who was adventurous, supportive, and deeply loved.

A Stark Reminder

Winter hiking on Mount Marcy draws those seeking challenge and breathtaking views. But it also demands respect for conditions that can shift without warning.

Mohr's final act was calling for help. Rescuers responded quickly and continued searching into the night, and yet the cold still proved relentless. What remains is the weight of that afternoon call and the hours that followed.

And sadly, Mohr isn't the only young woman who lost her life while partaking in this activity. Last year, Brazilian hiker Juliana Marins, 26, has been confirmed dead after falling from a cliff while hiking on Mount Rinjani, a 3,726-meter (12,224 ft) volcano on Indonesia's Lombok Island.

Her body was recovered following a four-day search and rescue operation that was hindered by treacherous terrain, unstable weather, and limited visibility.

What Happened to Her?

Marins had been on a tourist hike near Cemara Nunggal, a steep and remote section of the trail to the summit when the accident occurred. She had been hiking with a group when she vanished.

According to a video report by the New York Post, she fell from a cliff that borders the trail and plunged into the volcano's crater.

However, in a clarification provided to Reuters, Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the local rescue team, confirmed that while Marins did fall from a cliff on the mountain, she did not fall into the volcano's crater.

He added that the retrieval of her body was complicated by the area's soft, unstable sand, which made rope-based rescue techniques especially dangerous.

According to the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency, she was located early Monday morning, June 23, 2025, at around 6:30 a.m. local time using a drone. She was found motionless on a rocky cliff face, approximately 500 meters below the trail.

The Rescue Effort

Rescue teams had descended 250 meters but were forced to halt due to large overhangs and a lack of safe anchor points, making the use of ropes dangerous and requiring technical climbing. Despite the challenging conditions, authorities remained committed to the mission.

At 2:30 p.m. on Monday, the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara held an emergency Zoom meeting, urging faster evacuation efforts, including the deployment of a helicopter.

However, volatile weather and the need for a specialized hoist system limited that option. The team was eventually forced to retreat temporarily due to safety concerns.

According to BBC, park officials reported hearing Marins's cries for help on Saturday, June 21, 2025, indicating she was still alive at that point, although she appeared to be in shock.

Drone footage and videos recorded by other hikers showed her sitting and moving on grey soil far below the trail. Rescue climbers reached her with food and water after 16 hours, but were unable to bring her up.

"Another day without a rescue! The park continues as usual. Tourists are still hiking the trail while Juliana is IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP! We don’t know her health condition. She’s been without water, food or warm clothing for three days!!! We need help, please! We need a rescue for Juliana," read a desperate post from her family as the wait grew longer.

By Sunday, rescuers could no longer locate her at the same spot. The dense fog affected visibility and grounded thermal drones. When she was found again on Monday, she had apparently fallen even farther down the mountain.

In an interview with UOL, Marins' relative Mariana Marins said the rescue was slow and under-resourced, "They started the rescue with precarious materials, little ropes, and everything. They have already descended 250 meters, but there are still 350 meters to go until Juliana." She added, "This has been very difficult and complicated for us."

The Aftermath

The Brazilian Embassy in Jakarta was in constant contact with local authorities and Marins' family throughout the rescue effort. They worked at the highest levels to support the search and are now assisting in the repatriation of her remains.

A statement released by the family on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, on Instagram confirmed her death. The post, when translated, reads, "Today, the rescue teams managed to reach the location where Juliana Marins was. With immense sadness, we inform you that she did not survive. We remain deeply grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection, and support we have received."

Brazilian authorities also issued an official statement expressing their sorrow and extending condolences to Juliana’s family and friends. Marins, who was from Niterói, Brazil, had been traveling in Indonesia on a personal adventure. Her passion for nature and exploration was evident to all who knew her.

Her tragic death has sparked an outpouring of grief and concern online, both in Brazil and internationally, as many called for improvements in emergency protocols for international hikers in remote areas.