He is/was reportedly an experienced hiker.
If he didn’t have a personal locator beacon with him...
I’m thinking he didn’t want to be found.
If he did, I’d wonder about a sudden medical co-incidence or foul play.
You mean something like "contracting beriberi" and "breaking one's leg" at the same time?! Suddenly "developing Ménière's disease" and "coming down with a case of measles" while hiking?! That kind of coincidence?
Regards,