Crab.....you debate every thing and answer nothing sometimes.
My question was specific to this exact single event....and you threw in your tuppence trying to enlighten the unwashed or something else.
I looked at the Sat View of the area in question and noted it is not far from paved roads....has well worn trails.
The Report noted the Hikers had lights as seen by the Helicopter Crew.
It made no mention of the Hiker's condition....no mention of anything you listed in your reply.
It also indicated the Helicopter Crew contacted (or had contact made) with the MRT who THEN walked up and walked the Hikers back down safely.
Mine is a reasonable question....just as we query the problem of unnecessary EMS call outs....we should do the same with SAR Call Outs particularly those that put the Helicopter Crew in a hazardous situation.
No one seems to care about that as there did not seem to be any such questions posed in the report.
My questions are valid as the MRT "WALKED" the Hikers down....no mention of a stretcher, injury, or other reason that the SAR Helicopter was needed.