I think his own writing sums it up very well - "They are always looking at me like I'm a nut job - often warning me that the things I do are very risky and might some day get me into serious trouble"

I am surprised he was hiking without adequate (7.5 minute quadrangles) maps. They alone would have allowed him to make better decisions.

Evidently he was hiking im minimalist foot gear. One wonders if something more adapted to climbing (more edging ability) would have helped.....