The mother of hiking influencer Hannah Moody has reacted after it was revealed her daughter died due to heat exposure last month.
“It did solidify the fact it wasn’t an underlying condition,” Terri Moody told Arizona’s Family on Saturday, June 28. “As my middle son said, though, that means it was preventable. That’s a hard pill to swallow.”
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner revealed Hannah died of environmental heat exposure after her body was found near the Gateway Trailhead of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 22. She was 31 years old.
Hannah’s death was ruled as accidental.
“I’m hoping it wasn’t all for nothing,” Terri said. “If one life was saved because of Hannah, then that’s one life that has been saved.”
It was 102 degrees when Hannah set out on a solo hike on May 21. She was reported missing after failing to show up to a meeting with friends.
After her daughter’s body was found, Terri suspected heat had played a factor.
“We’re all assuming it was heat-related,” Terri told Arizona’s Family on May 28. “But that’s inconclusive. There were no signs of foul play.”
She added, “It’s like a mystery to us right now. We’re trying to piece it all together.”
Hannah — who had amassed nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram before her death — recently moved back to Arizona and was working a new restaurant job before her death.
“Can’t believe it’s been 6 months since I moved back to AZ 🥹🌵☀️🚙🏠,” she shared via Instagram on April 27.
Hannah said life had been “so good” with “lots of sunsets, nature, friends, good food, solo dates.”
“More than anything I’ve been challenged to be present,” she added. “To not rush through this season. To be here, now. Soak up the moments, the days, the experiences, and learn as much as possible from all of it – but to also just enjoy it. Life gets to be fun. Easy. Playful. Full. It doesn’t always have to be so serious 🙃.”
Hannah, who hiked alone frequently, had been learning to appreciate her solo time since moving back to Arizona.
“Nothing better than happy hour on a beautiful patio in 75 degree weather, enjoying your own company 🥰,” she wrote via Instagram in February. “I’ve always been pretty independent and don’t mind doing things alone, but being more intentional and actually dating myself is something I am working on this year!! Like actually treating myself and doing the things that I would want to do with a man.”
