HikeArizona.COM

March was really busy for SARA:
http://www.sarci2.org/...

Interesting was the Window Peak saddle incident:

Mon Mar 20 2 hikers lost , Window Peak, Catalinas
Two hikers reached the trail saddle below Window Peak, then took the trail up the peak instead of down the other
side. A team spent the night climbing Ventana Trail, reaching the peak about dawn. A Customs helicopter hoisted all of them
.

Usually the trouble spot when going from from ventana to esperero is on the way down from window peak saddle to esperero saddle, but it sort of sounds like another option is mistaking the route to the peak is part of the traverse

Hoist from Window Peak saddle video:
[ youtube video ]

Big thanks to SARA and the local authorities

Having just climbed to the summit of Window Peak in November, I don't know how you make that mistake

@SkyIslandHiker

Its possible a combination of cairns, nightfall, and all that manzanita up there contributed.
The SARA reports are so terse, they always leave me with more questions.
I bet that stretch of Esperero from the window peak saddle is the least traveled and most overgrown trail segment in pusch ridge and they might have attempted it but turned back or couldn't find where it started.