I suppose a lot of folks go hiking with less than my EDC. DR's PSK is a good start for this trip. The Mission Wallet I EDC has both a Vic Spartan, a Peak 1xAAA, a Leatherman Squirt E4, an old drivers license for ID and cash.

Your friend may not want to be seen as overly concerned that he's not in civilization any longer, so small pocket carry only would be a much easier sell. Anything that needs to go on a belt or in a pack of any size would be a non-starter.

Your friend should have a knife and a flashlight. The Vic Spartan would be nice because it's so useful for so many things during the day and is very common. I've started using a 1xAA Fenix L1D and first impression is that it's a great light for such a small size. If they lose power, he can use the light to look thru the vast assortment of stuff the company supposedly has on hand.