The way I read it the only diference in the two stories is preparedness but luck. Aside from the winch in the back of the truck the New England couple was no more prepared than the folks in Utah. They just happened to find a cabin with weak locks. They also apparently squandered all of Monday in a vain attempt at signalling. Self recovery could have been started Moday morning, even as they waited for help. They knew that they were 17 miles off the main road, common sense should have warned of the slim liklihood of passersby. If not for the close proximity of that cabin the results between the two stories may have been tragically similar. That's why every autumn my winter bag goes in the back of the jeep.

That's my 2 cents

Ed