OK, since I apparently know very little about the situation, here are the facts for everyone else to make their own decision.
Landing site is at 5500ft AMSL
20 deg C or ISA + 16
Fog/cloud on the trees, so very little wind. Rescue aircraft could not get to the site.
7 welders on board - say averaging 200lbs each plus a 200lb pilot?
A/C weights for L3's about 2450lbs averaged.
Guess at about 200 to 300lbs of fuel.
I come to about 4000+ lbs without considering misc. bags, tools, books, survival equip. etc.
Gross internal = 4150lb
So what do you think? Can you stop the aircraft and hover given those conditions?
Pure speculation of course, he could've had an engine failure for all we know.