I spent much of my youth backpacking in the Sierras and Rockies long before there were cell phones, plb's, etc. I always left a general route of my trip with friends or family, along with telling them I would check in on certain days, if they didn't here from me within 24 hrs of that check-in time they could then call the authorities in the area I was in. What did people do before there was instant communication, just go on and live your life. Should the worst happen, someone or something will find you eventually, if it's a someone, you'll be given a nice service and memorial stone, if it's a something, you'll be left on the ground at some point along with everything else that's been digested.
John