Interesting. You'd have thought with his previous hiking experience he would've at least been more aware of how much work is involved. It seems he was too surprised at the effort he was going to have to put into staying alive, given his preparations and his history.

I often wonder why people who get in this situation don't backhike the trail. Maybe he was too far in, but from what the story says, he was only a day or so hike away from his point of origin. I could see it was a tough hike to get to where he was when he finally realized he was lost, but if he knew which way he had to go to get out, it seems the effort he expended traipsing around would've served him better backhauling on the trail a ways.

As usual, not enough details in the story to understand the whys and wherefors. I guess based on what was conveyed, he did well enough just staying alive and getting himself found by the seekers.

It does go to show that it don't take much to make a situation bad real quick.