[steve86]

I'd wonder whether a 2m could get out without a repeater in the mountains

Probably not but civil and military receivers would pick up your signal once they launched a rescue effort. Another reason to tell someone where you're going and when you expect to arrive.

[AnAmericanMother]

Yep, if the Civil Air Patrol's overhead, they'd pick up something sooner or later.

My dad used to fly with them (he's 82 and has hung up his goggles.) They located some lost folks, were able to save some.

[Phsstpok]

Friends and family did know where they were going (Gold Beach) and when they were supposed to arrive (including calls to the hotel to tell them they'd be late). They did NOT know what route they were taking, however. There are several from the last place there were spotted and their destination and, off of those, several small roads they could have strayed onto by mistake in bad weather. I'm betting that's what happened.