I was kind of surprised that there was so little discussion of the case here at ETS but summer has come to the Dakotas and even I am not online as much. I've followed the story with interest since the woman was a very experienced hiker and outdoorswoman by all accounts. Today I read that the cause of death has been determined to be hypothermia. Momentarily I was taken aback; in my mind I thought a 70 year old woman hiking alone, probably she had an accident or died of a heart attack or other illness.

But no, hypothermia. According to the reports the low temps were in the low 40's, certainly cold enough to kill but not usually a huge concern for someone well equipped and skilled in wilderness lore. I know that a surprise downpour or a slip and fall into a stream can lead to a rapid loss of core heat. Still...someone with that much experience should have known this and been better prepared. I don't say that to speak ill of her memory but to remind anyone reading that there's a good reason places like ETS exist! Nowhere in the media reports have I learned what she carried for gear but I have to wonder if a PSP & AMK HeatSheet bivvy might have made the difference between a story to tell your grandkids and a tragedy.