James Kim: new vs old tech

No doubt many are saddened by the senseless loss of James Kim, the
family man that perished in the mountains of Western Oregon early this
week.  I think what makes it all the more tragic is that here was a
person who was on the cutting edge of all the latest and greatest high
tech computer and communications technology.  Blackberries, photo
cellphones, wifi PDA's and laptops, etc.  I'm stunned a person in such
a high tech vector could become so completely isolated in such a short
distance from the mainstream.  

This worries me because it highlights the shortcomings of all this new
high tech gimcrackery.  As I understand it, even satellite cellphones
require a service provider with a nearby uplink antenna.  So, this
brings up my question, as a non ham: 

How long do you think it would have taken James, or anyone in that
situation, to make contact with outside help and get him and his
family out of there if he'd had something like a basic QRP tranceiver
and antenna and knew how to use it?

Any thoughts you may have on this issue would be appreciated.

nb