He couldn't remember what frequency he got the response on, so he may have hit the Colorado Connection linked system (http://www.colcon.org/repeaters.html), but he only got the one response so that seems unlikely. Then again, an 80 mile shot with 5 watts in that terrain seems pretty unlikely, too, so I suppose we'll just have to wonder about it.

"I'm curious if carrying a small amateur radio would make any sense at all." Yes. http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14440362 The person rescued is a friend. He had been carrying a small, 5 watt handheld 2-meter radio for 20 years whenever he went skiing or hiking. This time it saved his bacon, but he was experienced, well prepared and had done some research and some tests. The radio without the preparation would just have been weight. He was lucky, too. The repeaters serving Colorado's Front Range (I live in Boulder) are on pretty high peaks and reach into the mountain areas some, but as has already been said you will probably have to be on a ridge to communicate with anybody. There are fewer repeaters in less populated areas but more than you might imagine. A more-or-less accurate list is here: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Amateur_Radio_Repeaters_in_Colorado.