It's sure tough when the idea of a search and rescue transforms into a search and recovery. Makes us all shudder to think of how a few little instances could have changed the entire outcome for the current tragedy.

I imagine, Paul, that developing a search plan is something SAR groups work over and revise many times. I think there are some obvious places they could look for clues. But then what if he slipped and slid into some nearly inaccessible spot? And with all the wind blowing spin drift around, everything is coated with white.

It seems curious, though that SAR would ask Richard whether he noted any SPOT unit on the hiker. Seems like family and friends would have already told them that.