Solution to Mystery #2

As you recall, our mystery hiker seemed all geared up for a good backpacking trip, and yet he had hiked fewer than two miles up the trail, and had followed us back down towards the lodge at Tuolumne Meadows. It was mid-morning, and he seemed to be lost, wandering almost aimlessly either behind us or in front of us.

And so we began to wonder, while he wandered, what the heck was going on with that guy?

His pack was full, and spotless, even on the bottom. It had never been set on the ground. Was he just testing his gear, feeling what it was like to hike with it? Why then the very slow pace and the seemingly aimless approach?

And then I remembered the ranger up at the junction, asking for permits.

Hmm. If this fellow had thought to set out on a backpacking trip with his lovely new gear, but without a permit, and then he learned (or rather, saw?) a ranger ahead of him on the trail asking for permits, what would he do?

Would he loiter in the area, wondering how to proceed? Would he slowly come to the realization that his hike was in trouble, and step-by-step turned his travel back to Tuolumne Meadows, away from the ranger, and eventually back to the lodge?

I think so. But maybe you have a better explanation?