A serious mountain person might leave some signs if he wanted to be tracked later by others.
Small rock piles, rocks arranged in an arrow fashion, marking trees, breaking branches...would be useful.
Leaving pants when one does not have a hat nor gloves is not a good sign. ( It is also not helpful that the local sheriff professes this as a 'sign.' )
Second, I do not know why he did not build a large fire on the road near his car. He had nine days to find dry branches, small dead trees...so he had lots of fuel for a 24 hour, every day and night fire.
The smoke could have been seen during the day by passing airplanes and the flames at night. Plus he could have used the fire for warmth instead of draining the car's gas.
Yup. I agree. They are saying these people were clever? I dont buy into that. They had the means to light their car tires and not the means to find firewood and use that?
Then take off cross country instead of following the road? Something doesnt quite add up..