"Jim Macklin" writes:

The miracle is that they all did not die. The mother breast
fed her children, but that would materially shorten her life
due to the use of water and calories.

There was snow, which could be melted (presumably) to provide fresh
water. People can go without food for quite a while, easily two
weeks. Very young children should be fed when possible, but breast
milk provides everything required for that, and the mom can easily
afford the loss of calories over short periods (days, two weeks,
etc.).

It was foolish to not have some goose down clothing and
blankets in stuff sacks, they take very little room and are
very warm.

I thought I read they were going to get a Christmas tree. If so, they
really should have taken more gear and food, just in case.

A simple call to a friend someplace, with a request that
they call out the police if you don't call them by 10 PM
tonight would get S&R looking. Haven't checked, but auto
clubs and car rental agencies could offer "drive plans" as a
service.

Sounds a lot like a flight plan. But a lot of pilots don't bother to
file flight plans, either.

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