The sunken cheeks, the fever.  Shock has set in, Trail… Wes is in real Danger… not to mention that, notwithstanding all the physical discomfort, he, HOWEVER, wants to “get back to Shelley.”  Seriously, who uses the word ‘However’ in this context?  And oh by the way, Mark, Wes sure is HUNGRY…  The close-up of Wes reveals facial stubble, while in frame one it looks as though Mark has grown the full Abraham Lincoln chinstrap… Which is probably the spontaneous Trail body reaction to being suddenly thrown into survival mode… but then it miraculously disappears by panel three…

But down the mountain we go, hat perched on the back of the Trail-head- ha!- Trailhead- get it?? That’s a joke, son! ( a little hiking humor…)

And for what it’s worth, I can only manufacture a certain amount of worry here… I don’t think we have ever actually LOST a character in the decades that this strip has been in production… so, Mark, Wes, Carry On!  We should have you back to safety by Independence Day!