“I’ve seen people start hikes woefully unprepared.”
Summer in the mountains of Colorado can be very dangerous for hypothermia. Take off on a hike, it’s sunny and warm, then thunderstorm hits and I’ve seen people staggering around like drunk trying to find the trail. Others will grab them and walk them down. But if you are alone...
The two of them had a chance to make it through the night with the dual body heat. No way to know how good the chance was. I’d have drug the person down as far as I could on a sheet or something and stayed with them. She may have needed oxygen as much as warmth.
I’ve had hypothermia in the smokies on a bright, blue sky summer day. And I’ve climbed Mt Washington on another summer day. Do not expect mountains to play. Come prepared and you’ll be ok. Do not neglect to eat or stay well hydrated.
“She may have needed oxygen as much as warmth.” Very true at 12,000 feet.