Gripping article, thanks for the link. What a miserable, terrifying experience.

"Earlier this month in Big Bend, an inexperienced hiker had to be rescued after just a couple of hours because she didn't drink enough water. As dehydration worsens, the body's tissues begin to dry out and cells shrivel and malfunction. Muscles become spastic, skin wrinkles, vision dims, and delirium sets in. Once the body loses about 15 percent of its water, death often follows."

That is unforgiving country. He started out with a little more than one gallon of water (4.5 liters). I drink that much (50-50 water and Gatorade) in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park on a hot and muggy day hiking 10 miles (2400-foot down and up).

Thank goodness his wife worried when he wasn't home by evening. And once in trouble he seemed to act with a level-head. He did have a lighter to make signal fires.

It's a well-written article that hopefully will save someone else's life.