Cafe Flora Manager Killed While Hiking in Alaska

KC Boehly, a manager at Madison Valley's beloved vegetarian restaurant Cafe Flora, died last week while hiking through Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve, reports The Seattle Times. Her body was found Friday morning after being swept away by a fast-moving creek, according to the National Park Service.

The 28-year-old Boehly (who also formerly worked at Tilth) and a co-worker were making their way back to Denali Park Road after two days of camping, but, per The Times, "bloated waterways from several days of rain in the area made crossings a treacherous affair. Boehly and her co-worker made three attempts to ford a tributary of Stony Creek, moving farther upstream each time, the release says. On the third try, Boehly fell and was swept downstream."

"KC was a beloved member of the Flora family and her sudden passing is a shock to us all. There are not words for how deeply missed she will be by every one of us. She was a gentle soul, a true friend and an adventurer through and through. Whenever she entered a room her smile was contagious. She brought joy and light wherever she went. Our lives are better for having known her." says Nat Stratton-Clarke, Cafe Flora's owner.

Plans for a memorial service that will be open to the public are underway. Eater will provide updates when we have them.