"And why didn't anyone report a mother and two young children missing for nearly a week?"

They apparently live on a reservation, and if yours are like ours, there could be multiple answers to that question.

"Why weren't more calls made when things got desperate? Dead cell phone?"

Because the kids used the batteries talking to their friends beforehand? Left the charger at home?

roberttheiii: "If you're in decent shape you could walk ~36 miles (60k) fairly easily. I'm not in great shape and I can run 10k in an hour."

Fine. Do it for six hours. How about doing it in something other than running shoes? Sweating yet? That's too bad, because the temp is dropping to the mid-30s, and there's a 10 mph wind, which should put the windchill about 27F. Add some worry about your Mom and two kids back there in Nowhere. Speed up a little, a little sweat never hurt anyone...

When things happen, they always seem to happen at the worst time, not the best time.

Doug, I'd like to hear how this plays out, okay?

Sue