"Had a large pack full of backpacking gear nearby."

Then I guess it was NO-No #2: Stop and hole up while you're still in good shape. Waiting until you're wet and hypothermic is not good.

If they had gear, I guess none of them were thinking much... ... unless ... There were three women and one man. I've been in enough similar situations to suspect that the women may have wanted to stop, and the guy kept saying, "Oh, it's just a little further -- we can make it!" and the women went along, against their better judgment, rather than insisting.

I'm glad none of the guys HERE would do anything like that.

Sue