Thursday 24 November 2022 07:35 AM Body of teenage hiker who disappeared on popular New Hampshire trail found ... trends now The body of a teenage girl who disappeared Sunday on a hiking trail in New Hampshire has been found - on what would have been the teen's 20th birthday. New Hampshire conservation officials revealed Wednesday that search parties found the body of Emily Sotelo, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University, at roughly 11 am. Her body, officials said, was found on the northwest face of Mount Lafayette within the confines of Franconia Notch State Park, where she had set out on a hike days prior. Sotelo was last seen wearing a brown jacket, exercise pants, and sneakers - clothes searchers warned were not warm enough to brave frigid temperatures seen in the area this time of year. Their sprawling four-day search effort, they added, was 'hampered by high winds, cold temperatures and blowing snow' - and ultimately proved suspicions that Sotelo could not have survived those conditions on her own. Sotelo, 19, was last seen by her mother at around 5am on Sunday when she dropped her off at a trailhead leading to Mount Lafayette, Haystack, and Flume in Franconia. Sotelo, who was originally from Massachusetts, would make it to her destination, but at some point succumbed to subzero temperatures that dropped as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Upon making the grim discovery, officials called in a national guard helicopter to retrieve Sotelo's body from the mountain face. A cause of death was not immediately provided, but officials said it was likely due to exposure. Emily Sotelo, who was originally from Massachusetts, made it to her planned destination , but at some point succumbed to subzero temperatures that dropped as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Her body was found Wednesday, on what would have been her 20th birthday Her body, officials said, was found on the northwest face of Mount Lafayette within the confines of Franconia Notch State Park, where she had set out on a hike four days prior. It is not yet known when or how she died, but officials said Wednesday it was likely due to exposure Fish and Game officer David Walsh warned hikers of the dangers of hiking while underdressed in the state's infamous White Mountains, a range commonly perceived as treacherous during winter. 'The biggest lessons learned in a tragedy like this is when you're hiking in New Hampshire, especially in the White Mountains, be prepared for the unexpected,' he told WMUR-TV. During their search, officials said, temperatures had dropped to 'about zero', with windspeeds making the chill factor -30 degrees Fahrenheit. Walsh warned others with plans to hike the dangerous mountain range to take the necessary precautions and take the dangers that come with the winter season seriously. Officials sprawling four-day search effort, they added, was 'hampered by high winds, cold temperatures and blowing snow' - and ultimately proved their suspicions that Sotelo could not have survived those conditions on her own Fish and Game officer David Walsh said Sotelo's death should serve as a warning to all hikers of the dangers that come with winter excursions. He warned hikers of the dangers of hiking while underdressed in the White Mountains, a range often perceived as treacherous during winter 'Be prepared with knowledge,' the official said. 'Know the weather conditions. Dress for the weather conditions. Have extra clothes. Have extra food, water. Have a headlamp map, a compass.' Sotelo, her parents said, had planned to hike various trails in the area but was not dressed for the frigid cold weather that quickly followed her departure. Temperatures dropped to 'about zero', with windspeeds making the chill factor -30 degrees Fahrenheit, officials with the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team said Sunday during the outset of their search. Fish and Game officers and volunteers from more than a dozen search and rescue teams would then spend the next several days combing the area, using aircraft and scent dogs, eventually finding a trail and items left by Sotelo at the headwaters of Lafayette Brook on Tuesday afternoon. However, by nightfall, officials reclassified their efforts from a rescue mission to one relating to just recovery.