I agree. I'm not condeming him for going solo, in fact I think sometimes going solo is the best way to go. What I was saying is that he took unecessary risk while alone, which I suspect were because he was relying on a single electronic device to get him out of trouble.

The problem I see here was this was no accident. Unlike the Kims, who took a wrong turn or got lost, or the Mt Hood climbers who got caught in a snowstorm, or even the runner who fell and hurt herself, there doesn't seem to be any extenuating circumtances to have caused his problem. From what I read in this case, he didnt' fall and get injured, no sudden unexpected weather change, no falling rocks to prevent his going back the way he came. Nothing at all that was unforseen. He basically just kept going forward until he wasn't able to return. Where was his climbing gear? Why would he leave almost everything behind in an area where it gets below freezing? If this was like the Aaron Ralston case and he had injured himself because of a falling rock, then used the PLB to call for rescue, that's great, it's what they were designed for. But I don't think they were meant for people to take them along just so they can go as far as they want to and have someone else pick them up when they can't make it back.

I think one of the first things people learn when traveling outdoors, especially when traveling solo, is that you don't go headfirst into the unknown without knowing how to return. Just like in hiking, if you dont' know what's ahead, dont' keep going until your water runs out, turn around when you still have enough water to make it back. Or in canyoneering, don't pull the ropes down unless you know for sure there's another exit out of the canyon. I would think climbing would be the same way, don't climb up what you can't climb down, unless you know there's another way down.