I changed the subject line to reflect the latest and probably best information.

The article at "How rescuers found Karen Klein, th...nd Canyon" also indicates she melted snow and there is no mention of urine.

The article caused me to think they may have worked through their options logically. Unlike James Kim & family in Oregon (2006), she left early, rather than wait while her energy reserves were depleted just sitting there. She could have gone the other direction and found cell coverage, but she didn't, that's just the way it is.

There's a mindset that goes with being a triathlete; besides luck, that mental strength to not quit probably played a major role in her not dying in the snow.

So what went wrong? They trusted google maps and otherwise their pre-trip planning was minimal at best. So they got stuck on a backroad in the snow with no cell coverage. How often have we heard that one? This won't be the last time.

There are lots of things we can think of to critique, but bottom line is that with excellent physical conditioning and a bit of luck, she survived. Good on her.