“”””Several miles earlier, he’d set his pack down and left to get a better look at his whereabouts and the trail. When he came back, he was unable to find the pack, which contained all his food, water and camping gear””””
I wonder if he was experienced enough to have a small SERE kit on him?
People arrive at a spot and set their gear down and accidently wander off and get lost while searching for firewood or having spotted and followed a cute deer or something, a small SERE kit that stays on their belt all the time and matches the season and the locale, and is never taken off, helps one get through a night or two of being lost.
Never leave your Garmin inReach Mini Satellite Communicator behind.