From what I have been able to find, it was supposed to be a DAY trip. What I do on my weekends is no concern of my boss. There has never been any mention of a girlfriend or spouse during any of this.

A single man decides to take a DAY hike on a weekend. He expects to return to work on Monday. Something happens while out in the wilderness and he doesnt return on time. He doesn't show up at work on Monday. The boss might call his apartment and get the answering machine. The guy has climbed 49 mountains in the region and he is in his late 20's. He is not a complete novice and probably has a pretty good idea of what is likely to happen.

When I was a single man living in my own apartment, I did not call my parents every time I left my apartment. That was one of the reasons I moved out of state, to have some time to grow up and live my own life. If I was going somewhere without my girlfriend, then I might tell her when I return. She was a girlfriend, not my handler. I was an adult providing for myself. What I do on my own time is no concern of my employer and shouldn't be. As long as I report to work when scheduled, then it is MY time, not theirs.

People are so used to having a pager and a cellphone, they can't remember when your time was your own. They should be times when you are alone, not lonely, alone. Being in constant continuous contact with others is an new urban thing. Let go of the leash. A trip to the wilderness is time to leave all the tecnocrap behind and spend sometime with the wilderness, weather, and wildlife. Geez.