The 'Pacific Northwest' (my neck of the woods - being in Seattle, WA) can be very dangerous. It is always sad when we hear these stories, which happen all too often.
We were taught early on (here in the Northwest) to always pack some extra items in case of emergency - the operative word here being "were". I suspect that with the advancements in technology - cell phones, computers, GPS devices, internet, etc. - people sometimes forget that the world is big compared to a human, and that mother nature does not typically accommodate the technology of mankind.
I feel sad for the surviving family members, and hope that others will pack boots, sweaters, hats, gloves, whistles, compasses, rain shells, and water when traveling away from home.
