Professor from Louisville found dead in Wyoming backcountry

BUFFALO, Wyo. – Authorities say a University of Louisville geography and geosciences professor has died on a hiking trip in the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says 62-year-old Carol Hanchette of Louisville, Kentucky, died from hypothermia.

Authorities say she and 67-year-old Richard Cornelius of Billings, Montana, entered a wilderness area last Friday and made camp. While hiking Saturday, they separated when Cornelius decided to head back to camp on his own.

However, he got lost and never reached the camp. He eventually found his way out Monday and met others who contacted authorities.

A search for Hanchette began Monday evening.

Her body was found the next day. She had left the camp apparently to seek help and was hiking out with her gear in a snow storm.