Woman hiker dies of exposure

An experienced outdoorswoman. But the New Hampshire mountains, solo, in this weather?

NYC financial analyst, married to JP Morgan exec, dies of exposure during solo hike in New Hampshire mountains. Kate Matrosova, 32, of New York City, died from exposure after activating her emergency beacon Sunday afternoon, authorities said. Her body was found by searchers between Mount Madison and Mount Adams on Monday. She was overcome by 100 mph wind gusts and minus-30-degree temperatures.

Matrosova’s Facebook page shows a life lived in pursuit of the extreme: Paintball, white-water rafting, boating, rock climbing and mountaineering. 

Husband Charlie Farhoodi, a vice president at J.P. Morgan, reportedly dropped off Matrosova early Sunday morning at the base of the mountains.

******

She was alone and planned to hike to the top of Mount Madison, WMUR said, before heading through Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson and Mount Washington, which at about 6,300 feet is the highest peak in the Northeast.

******

Search and rescue crews couldn’t reach the area overnight because of extreme weather. A National Guard crew flew over the area with a helicopter on Monday morning but couldn’t see anything because of blowing snow and had to turn back.

A team made up of Fish and Game officers, Mountain Rescue Services members and Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue members braved 108 mph winds and frigid temperatures to reach the area.