While it's correct to say and think that you should always have a partner for climbs like this, the point of going solo is to not have a partner; she did have a partner, he just wasn't with her on the mountain. She wasn't alone because she didn't have a partner, she was climbing solo, there is a difference. She was by herself on the mountain, but she was in contact the entire trip. She breaks a crampon and wallah, there's a new pair helo'd up. Things can go south, but that's a risk you take in climbing solo. $.02