It is not “smartassery” to want people to know how to stay alive if they choose to wander away from roads and motels. It did not require much knowledge to survive the situation she found herself in, but unfortunately she lacked that little bit of knowledge even though she was said to be an “experienced” hiker.
I have been lost in the woods and lived to tell the tale. Clearly the woman was only experienced in walking on well marked trails for brief periods of time. She did not consider this a “wilderness” experience or she would have been more prepared. Much of the Appy trail is well traveled and friendly. Some is not, at all, particularly off trail.