Don't mean to quibble, but SAR's reference would seem to imply the hiker had on microspikes or yaktraks, not instep crampons. Begs the question, instep crampons or any of the microspikes are inadequate for snow or ice with any exposure. Possibly they two guys set out for a day hike, and just went beyond their equipment. I can see it, the kahtoola model microspikes are pretty good on (flat) ice, just not that good. Lucky to be alive.