I read the links listed. I still don't quite understand why they thought they needed rescue. Not lost, no injuries, no medical events.

OK so the waterways were swollen with runoff. Wait it out for a day or two, it will go down. I've done it. It would mean some (very) light eating for a couple days but that won't kill you.

IIRC there was some mention of hypothermia. Looking at the video, they were in Conifer Heaven, which means lots of pitchwood and fire materials at the base of those huge trees. I know, it rained a lot, but the best place to be if you need a fire in wet weather is a thick conifer forest. Maybe they didn't have the right tools.

I'm probably overlooking something, and there's surely some facts that were not reported by the media. But the general idea that comes to mind is that maybe they are good hikers but poor outdoorsmen. There is a difference.