On the afternoon of 29 November 1970, a man and his two young daughters were hiking in the foothills of the north face of Ulriken, in an area known as Isdalen (Ice Valley); it was also nicknamed Death Valley, due to the area's history of suicides in the Middle Ages, and more recent hiking accidents. Noting an unusual burning smell, one of the daughters then located the charred body of a woman, located among some scree. Surprised and fearful, the group returned to town to notify the police.