Her father, David Perez, later remembered that she seemed calm and focused.
Chloe was a sophomore studying natural sciences.
The purpose of her hike was partly academic.
She planned to visit the McAfee Knob area and collect samples of unusual mosses and ferns for an ecology project.
She was not inexperienced.
Chloe had completed difficult trails before.
She carried professional hiking boots, a map, compass, two liters of water, energy bars, and a basic survival kit.
Weather conditions were favorable.
At approximately 7:20 a.m., a parking-lot camera recorded Chloe arriving in her silver car.
The video showed her adjusting her backpack.
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