Where You'll Find Me: Risk, Decisions, and the Last Climb of Kate Matrosova

On Feb. 15, 2015, Kate Matrosova, an avid mountaineer, set off before sunrise for a traverse of the Northern Presidential Range in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Late the following day, rescuers carried her frozen body out of the mountains amid some of the worst weather ever recorded on these deceptively rugged slopes.

At thirty-two, Matrosova was ultra-fit and healthy and had already summited much larger mountains on several continents. Her gear included a rescue beacon and a satellite phone. Yet, despite their best efforts, more than forty expert search and rescue personnel, a New Hampshire Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter, and a Civil Air Patrol Cessna airplane could not reach her in time to save her.

What went wrong?

Where You'll Find Me offers possible answers to that question, demonstrating why Matrosova's story--what we know and what we will never know--represents such an intriguing and informative case study in risk analysis and decision-making.

“Ty Gagne’s account of this tragedy is one of the best 360 degree analyses I’ve ever seen. Objective

facts of the case aside—clothing, equipment, etc., the human factors for all involved provide

us with important perspectives. His research on the elements of risk and how we make

decisions should serve readers well when they venture forth in any wilderness setting.”

— John E. (Jed) Williamson, President Emeritus, Sterling College, Editor, Accidents in North

American Mountaineering, ‘74 – ‘14, Current board member: Central Asia Institute,

Former President American Alpine Club,

 

“In this gripping tale—told with both grim detail and deep sensitivity—Gagne takes us into

risky terrain, where the smallest decision made by one individual can lead to life-changing

events for many. His own compassion invites us to identify with the woman whose final struggle

to survive ultimately leaves us with the sense that she was a friend we never had. Throughout

the book, Gagne reminds us that in order to assess our own risks, we must visit places in

ourselves we may not know as well as we should. The story also emerges as a testament to the

brave men and women of volunteer search and rescue teams, whose willingness to risk themselves

for others must also be tempered by good decision making. Where You’ll Find Me is many

things— adventure story, survival narrative, love story—and it contains an implicit promise

that the spirit of Kate Matrosova will live forever among the footpaths of the Presidentials.”

—Peter Kick, Author of Desperate Steps: Life, Death, and Choices Made in the Mountains of the

Northeast

 

“Destined to be a classic in the canon of mountaineering literature.”

—Peter Kick, Author of Desperate Steps: Life, Death, and Choices Made in the

Mountains of the Northeast

 

“You don’t have to be a mountaineer to appreciate the human drama of this tightly researched,

vividly told story. Gagne gives voice to an impressive number of eye witnesses and

knowledgeable experts, all of whom lend perspective and authority to his own keen analysis

of the tragedy. But the big reason this book will enjoy wide appeal is the author’s ability

to draw important lessons from the mistakes that led to an untimely death while managing

to celebrate—with respect and compassion—the life force that was Kate Matrosova.”

—Stefany Shaheen, COO of Good Measures and author of Elle & Coach, Diabetes, the Fight for

My Daughter’s Life, and the Dog Who Changed Everything

 

 

“Gagne adeptly integrates a tale of high adventure gone awry with the

intriguing science behind the risks and decisions we as humans face. Within

this finely-crafted account, the various threads comprising this story are

seamlessly interwoven against the rugged backdrop of New Hampshire’s

Presidential Range. Matrosova’s fateful solo journey hauntingly unfolds

alongside an analysis of the dire climatic and geographic elements conspiring

against her. The daring rescue efforts undertaken to save her are so viscerally

penned as to transport readers right to the wind-tortured peaks being

contended with. Where You’ll Find Me serves as an example of just where

decisional missteps can lead us- and a sobering reminder of Mother Nature’s

deadly potential.”

—Edward Swanson, Award-winning author of Mesmer’s Disciple and Madoc’s Legac