Let me begin this post by saying I have lurked here for a
few months and found it to be a pretty solid group of folks
giving out advice (in my opinion).
I want to re-enforce the absolute fact of your "head" or your "will to survive" as being the single most important tool you possess in any struggle to survive. In the past 5 years I have had two "survival" situations during mountaineering trips in New Mexico and Colorado.
The New Mexico episode involved an un-intended overnight stay in a snow cave located in a remote bowl behind the Taos ski area at 12,000 ft. It was March 15th 2002. Caused by weather (high winds on a high ridge) which slowed my progress and separated me from my teammate (the wind was so loud I couldn’t even hear him on my gmrs radio).
I had day-trip mixed alpine climbing gear, 2L platypus in an insulated
sleeve and insulated hose, helmet, etc,. No overnight gear.
I dug a snow hole into the vertical bank of a tree well and slept as best I could while seated on my pack and placing my boots on the insulating sleeve from the platypus. I never got cold… It was so warm in fact that I took off my gloves. I don’t think I even saw my breath all night. One thing I would do differently was to put my gloves in my pockets or better in a plastic bag and then in an inside pocket of my jacket. I did end up with a little frost nip on my finger tips from wet/frozen fleece gloves. Otherwise I walked out unhurt and met Taos Search and Rescue coming up the snowmobile trail towing a sled with a body bag in it! I was profusely apologetic about them having to come and get me (mountaineers sense of proper ethics and all).

My main point is that if you can execute following points you will
astronomically increase your chances of survival. If you can't execute these points (especially the first three) then no amount of whiz bang, high tech, high quality gear will save you.

1. keep your calm (I find humor helps)
2. make "reasoned" desisions
3. execute on your decisions in a calm and deliberate manner (you don't need to get hurt or get hurt more)
4. keep spirits up with "posistive self talk" or "thought"
5. relax!

Conversley, if you can execute the above points you will no doubt
appreciate fine equipment, such as the RSK MK1 (of which I own big and small)

Perhaps I will tell of the Colorado 14er trip which left me quite battle scarred... Some other time, my carpal is kicking in...

Sangre_NM