How could a PSK have helped the Scouts from Mesa?

They were backpacking. A backpack full of equipment is better than any PSK. Their main problem was that they were wet and had no dry clothes left. They also indicated they were low on supplies. They planned to hike in Friday, spend the night, and hike back out Saturday. They got snowed in and stayed put. There is no water and little vegetation in the Superstition Mountains. We have just had our longest period of no rain in Arizona history. Any wood was now wet. They were huddled in three tents and had sleeping bags.

Fire:
PJ Cotton balls and fatwood sticks could help start wet wood into a fire. The “leave no trace” rules would have made them very reluctant to burn any plants.


Water:
If they had dark trash bags they could have put some snow in a bag and the sun might melt some into water.

Navigation:
None. Stay put. A GPS, map and compass would be good.

Shelter:
They had tents.

Signaling:
Not a lot of sun for a signal mirror. (plastic mirrors has a very weak reflection) Whistles might help. There are almost always hikers in the Superstitions. 2-way radios and cell phones?

First-Aid:
They had to treat for hypothermia. Water bottles with hot water might help. They were out of dry clothes.

I think the main focus of the adult leaders should have been to keep the boys in the tents so they would stay dry. The adults should have known the weather report. By Sunday afternoon the sky would be clear. All they had to do was wait out the Saturday rain.

No knock, but I suspect it was an LDS Troop. They have to be back home by Saturday night. They are not allowed to camp on Sunday. I’m sure they were anxious to get back home by Saturday night.