WOT

The Deadswitch Trip wasn't the first Avery Mathis and Janet Warren had planned together. The two had a brief history of group wilderness expeditions between their sophomore year of college and when they went missing. Most women I interviewed who went on these trips said the same thing: Janet always planned, but people went because of Avery.

Avery was magnetic—funny, charming, and flirtatious. She refused to talk about her own successful starlet career on these trips, instead showering the other women with compliments and praise. In fact, the only one ever at odds with Avery was Janet.

"Janet chastised Avery for everything she did," one of the previous hikers told me. "Avery was always being too loud, risky, lazy, or a kiss-ass. Sure, they were best friends, but Janet was obviously jealous of her."

Janet had a reason for jealousy. By the time she was twenty-five, she'd cultivated a middling career as a folk singer and guitarist. Her local shows were never more than half-full. Avery had everything Janet didn't—beauty, personality, and fans.

I asked if things ever became uncomfortably contentious, or even violent, between them.

"Only once," said the hiker.