[I have occasionally wondered about that one, and if he survived the night.
About five hours from anything, less than two hours of light, carrying nothing and low cut shoes in a foot of snow?
He did not seem threatening but he seemed a bit off.
Not desperados but the gold prospectors can be ‘interesting’.
Most love to talk about their operation and enjoy having company... more than a few times just following a trail, stumbling in on them, had them show a weapon or point to the holster...
I can take a hint.]
In the worst case, however, some medical examiner might end up having to identify an anonymous set of bones via DNA and dental records. The wilderness is an unforgiving place. Wild animals die of exposure all the time. Citified humans have far less developed survival skills.
“Upon which they return to civilization and get back on the horse, but with a new zest for life. Hopefully that’s what happened in that particular case.”
I’m glad you said that now when the subject comes up, I can say he hit a bad spot...had a very cold night ... lived happily ever after.