The article was a good update to a case that I recall. I wish the details were there for us to understand the event better. He was only 100 feet off trail and only 4 miles from his truck. (most fatalities among backwoods hikers / backpackers happen within 3 miles of safety). 

There were two canisters of bear spray near his remains. Were they discharged? Was he defending against an advancing bear? 

And, of course, there is the not so uncommon occurrence that he went in with the intention of not coming out. Suicides some times seek a place
where they can do what they want to do without being found. A case in Northern California just a couple of years ago was like that. A very successful
young lady of 25, graduated from college in accounting, had been working as an IRS investigator. She broke up with her boyfriend and decided to shoot herself with her own government issued sidearm. But she purposely hiked deep down into the bush off a trail. Practicing fire crews found her a year later.