Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion hiking ethics

Stay and assist your partner to the best of your ability till it's evident that more good will reasonably come of leaving him/her in order to seek aid. It's a judgment call based upon many variables which you cannot completely cover in a hypothetical what-if. Doug Thompson will tell you vehemently, having seen every possible variation on this for 27 years at the Portal, do not abandon your only partner unless it's clear they cannot make it out with your assistance or are in serious jeopardy.

Now, substitute "another solo hiker unknown to you" for "buddy" in that injured/unconscious scenario. Then it becomes an ethical question. David Sharp's death on Everest in 2006, while exponentially more complicated, illustrates this quandary best.