I'm with you on this one.

It's might be bad form to play Monday morning quarterback, but I agree with Mac that there is something to be learned from this. I can't even imagine being that out of touch for five days. How do you do that? The people around me wouldn't allow it. Its almost like you'd have to arrange it on purpose. I can just imagine the conversation:

Ben: Bye honey! See you later.
Wife (or Boss, or Parent, etc): Where you going?
Ben: Oh, I'm off to the canyon/woods/desert to do some climbing/hiking/hunting.
Wife (or Boss, or Parent, etc): OK, when you gonna be back?
Ben: Oh, I don't know maybe 5 days, maybe 10, maybe 15.
Wife (or Boss, or Parent, etc): How will I be able to get in touch with you?
Ben: You wont.
Wife (or Boss, or Parent, etc): Hold it right there, bucko!

(and you can imagine the rest of the conversation)

How do you get this disconnected from the rest of the human race without making a concerted effort to do so? THATS where the mistake starts.