While most of the details are sketchy, I take away several things:

Means of signaling (camera mirror, orange fabric) got him out of there.

Don't go hiking in unfamiliar territory, especially near dark, without being prepared for a WSS.

Think about trying again (maybe the next morning) to locate the trailhead (to your car) instead of wandering further in an unknown area ( "He hiked inland, expecting to intersect with the road"). [Not clear to me if he was looking for the road he came in on, or just any road.]

Carry water -- more than you think you'll need. [ Maybe the extra weight will keep one from wandering too far ]

I think this is a good example where having a GPS (mark waypoint on your car, hike where you want, plot your way back) could have saved him a lot of grief.


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