I don't go out in the wilderness without leaving an itinerary with a trusted friend and then I don't deviate from that itinerary.
Tossing a flare gun and some flares in the back pack wouldn't be all that bad of an idea, either.
L
I wonder what her expectations and commitment were. Maybe she "hangs it out there" for a taste of real freedom and sense of self. You know, the Jim Bridger sort of person. In that case, an itinerary would would only act a belay when she wanted to free climb.
I leave itineraries because I have a wife, chidren, and grandchildren who are more important to me than the thrill of cutting myself completely free.
As an after-thought, she should probably take one of Tom Brown's survival courses.
A flare gun in that environment is a good way to set the woods on fire and cause a much worse situation. If you are going into the backwoods, or even if you are going to be driving out in the middle of nowhere in winter conditions, spring for a 406 Mhz PELT. I keep one in my flight bag, but I also carry it when I go skiing, on overnighter hikes or anytime that I think I might need it. A simple signal mirror is another good way to show your position without causing a wild fire.