His backpack was much nearer to the bottom. Apparently the snow/ice forced him to change his plans. His pack was maybe 100 - 150 yards above where his body was discovered, up the east side of Acorn Canyon, in a thicket of trees.
He never got very far on this trip. He parked near the corner of Finch & Acorn, walked up Acorn to the trailhead, left the trail where it crosses Acorn Canyon, proceded not more than .25 mile up the creek bed, hid his pack up the side of the canyon, and, when walking back, slipped, striking his head, which resulted in his death. It is an ironic end for a man who had done multiple 14,000+ foot peaks in the Sierra and innumerable backpacks to die five or so minutes from a road after a perhaps 20 minute walk.
