I reread the article, looking at the issue of breaking up the group. Our hero was with another older Scout, descending behind the main group. Seems they were riding drag, and perfectly prudent.
Fair enough, the other "nearby" Scout was 21 yrs-old. He went on down the switchbacks to Trail Camp where the adults and teenagers were.
Personally, I would keep the group more together and do a head count at Trail Crest before heading down the switchbacks. So many of these stories happen out of sight on the back side above 13,000 ft - people going down the wrong trail, falls, etc. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving anyone behind in a thunderstorm on the back side of the mountain, but that's just me.
