Oh, I'll go contrary on this - poor mis-beguided kid. He left home, with a "bye mom, see you in six months" note. He headed out into the wilderness above Stevens Pass, not really knowing where he was. "He found a river - he's not even sure which one" and followed it until it became an obstacle. He eventually found his way down, after 12 days on the run. His objective was New Jersey - apparently no one told him how far and how difficult that journey would be during winter months.

One bad slip, he might have been found several seasons by now, by an uninterested hiker or hunter. But he came down, and turned himself in, thinking better of his grand adventure. That's good. He left, not telling anyone where he was headed, no route plan, no game plan. Very little path for SAR to follow, more likely he would be at truck stops long Highway 2. If this was an adventure or survival, it wasn't much - and he violated every rule of giving a loved one an itinerary or at least a sense of direction. Sorry folks, I don't see anything romantic or admirable in what he did.