Five months ago, Meredith Emerson's friends huddled together in a cold North Georgia mountain lodge, wielding cellphones and working Web sites to keep the then-missing woman's image alive.

Emerson was found dead a few days later. The gruesome murder transfixed Georgia and drew attention from around the world.

Today, her friends are striving to keep Emerson's memory alive —- and they're searching for ways to keep other hikers safe.

Emerson's friends launched a nonprofit group this month focused on hiker safety and causes dear to the University of Georgia graduate. Right to Hike plans to start its programs June 25 with fund-raisers at all 40 metro Atlanta Applebee's, said Julia Karrenbauer, vice president and spokeswoman for the group.

The foundation has three goals. Right to Hike plans to help microchip dogs. Emerson's dog, Ella, had been microchipped with identifying information which helped lead police to her killer, Gary Michael Hilton.

The group also plans to help students study abroad in France, as Emerson did. Karrenbauer noted that the University of Georgia established the Meredith Hope Emerson Memorial Award for Study Abroad this year for students to travel to a French-speaking country.

Right to Hike also plans to help pay for GPS devices to allow emergency workers to find hikers in distress. The devices, called Satellite Personal Outdoor Trackers, can be used even in places like Blood Mountain, a North Georgia hiking trail with spotty cellphone coverage where Emerson met her killer.

Emerson's interests were diverse —- choosing a direction for the group was difficult, Karrenbauer said. "She loved hiking and reading and dogs. What do you pick?"

Karrenbauer, Emerson's roommate and best friend, said Emerson's death has largely consumed the past few months of her life. Karrenbauer never returned to live in the apartment the two shared near the Mall of Georgia. Her marketing work for the Gwinnett Arena has been overshadowed by the tragedy. People from as far away as India and Canada have written to express their sympathy, she said.

Forming the foundation was a way to reach for something positive and productive after disaster, Karrenbauer said. "We had to do something."

Right to Hike is a registered nonprofit organization, according to the Georgia secretary of state Web site. For more information go to www.righttohikeinc.com.