While having respect for the dead, and the Kim family, I have few words regarding the discovery of James Kim’s body yesterday.

The media is trying to make Mr. Kim look like a hero, having calling him that several time in news conferences. I disagree. James Kim panicked- and that’s why he’s dead, and his family was found alive, in fairly descent condition. It’s easier to hit one big target, then several small ones.

What could have prevented all of this?:

1. When traveling at all-especially in unfamiliar territory, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to let several people know your exact travel plans, and have a regular time to check in every day. This way, if something does happen, the search fro you starts much sooner, and investigators can find out where you’re at.

2. When approaching a road in the middle of no where- in this case a short cut to Gold Beach that looks dangerous- TURN BACK! Their vehicle was not even remotely equipped for driving in two feet of snow.

3. If traveling by car, carry at least 4 days supplies for each everyone of you who is with you. Also carry a copious amount of materials that can be made to alert to where you are if you get lost/ stranded. Flares, spray-paint, gasoline ( for a fire).

4. If you have a reliable shelter- stay put. In this case They had a car, which I imagine had at least SOME battery power left. They could have listened to the radio listening for news that they were being searched for ( in this case, it was all over the news within three days) , and then started beeping their horn – every hour on the hour. At night, they could have turned their lights off and on several times- every hour on the hour.

5. Cell phone. EVEN if your cell phone has no coverage, by calling- every hour on the hour , the phone still transmits a signal that can be honed in on. This is what ultimately got the mom and the kids rescued.

The bottom line is that there were several errors made, that all could have been prevented. I know that our thought sand prayers go out to the Kim family and their friends, but let this be a lesson to all of us: Go out in unfamiliar territory unprepared- all of this COULD happen to you!

-Tim-

If he had a cell phone at least he could have kept in touch with his family. He would have been better off if he had stayed in the car. Thats rugged country where he was.

tim ryan, he did make some mistakes but think about this, they were probably expecting a "regular" highway across the mt passes after missing the freeway exit -- not a near 4x4 trail they ran into. And surprsingly lot of those roads over the mt down there are paved. At any rate, when they first parked, they weren't in snow. it was in the morning when they found themselve buried in an overnight snowfall.

His fatal mistake was to follow a creek downhill when he was on an ACTUAL ROAD. To top it off, he was backtracking on a road they actually knew lead to somewhere. IT was a HUGE mistake which lead many to believe he was loopy at the time decision was made due to lack of food water and the coldness.

Anyway, 8 miles down the creek he travelled, half actually in the water. Had he stayed on the road, 7 miles later he would have reached a major traffic junction (for that area).

This is a truly sad event, but tim's right, we need to point out the major blunders made to prevent this from happening again.

PS: Ignore the LYING troll's post. Had he actually read the news article, he would have know they had a celluar device which actually helped narrow the search area. Wayne's just a liar and posting false info.

wayne said: "If he had a cell phone at least he could have kept in touch with his family."

WHY did you make this comment Wayne? Tim Ryan started a serious thread and you came in here and posted misinformation and MUCKED UP the thread. OBVIOUSLY you did not read any of the news (OR THE FIRST POST IN THIS TOPIC) as you would have ALREADY known their celluar device was a KEY part of the recovery and eventual rescue of the family.

We are not your babysitter. This forum is not your playpen to spout off whatever is on your mind.

This is a GREAT example of how you muck up this forum with misinformation and outright LIES!

PLease stop coming here and posting lies or making things up because you don't don't care to find out if they are factual yourself.

This has nothing to do with politics or God.

Go away.

Then why do you have such a one track mind at all? Can't you keep your mind off of politics for one minute? I think we would all be happy if you left this forum and found another that only has people that agree with you. This thread has nothing to do with your politics. Its about a fellow who died tragically in southern Oregon.Please stick to the topic!

Troll, stay focused on your false information. Didn't you read the first post? If you're not reading the posts, why are you here?

You stay focused on the topic. Keep your problems away from here. You need to find a forum with only liberals.

Wayne, he had a cell phone. He tried to use it.

My lord, the stupidity is just astounding!! How much more of this will be tolerated?

Regarding Kim, he is a hero, regardless of his decisions. After waiting 6 days to be rescued, even I myself might feel it's time to take action. Problem is, after 6 days of isolation, hunger, cold, and stress probably hampers your decision making abilities. This is a very sad event, and a reminder of just how unforgiving some of the terrain is in our state. I also think there should be better warnings posted on maps or on the road to warn those that are not locals.

I had been wondering how they managed to drive until stuck rather than turning around when it became obvious they were on the wrong road... the snowfall-after-stopping explaination takes care of that question, but raises another- why would they stop and spend the night in the car on a remote mountain road?

This is a good example of how our society is not as classless as some would have us believe- if not for the fact that Kim was from a rich family, likely *all* of them would be dead (the wife and kids were found by a private helicopter hired by his father).

Then again, if he hadn't lived such a (presumably) pampered existance, he may have had the real world experience to avoid the situation in the first place.

What were they doing in that area to begin with thats what I don't understand. They should have had some idea that it would be a rough area to drive in, especially when the weather being the way it was. I can see doing it in the summer.

Yeah, it's called a mistake, fuckwad. Look it up, asshat.

What a foulmouth and uncivil bunch.

Don't worry Wayne. Plenty of civil posters are interested in what you have to say.

Consider the source.

Herb

The point is, he did what he thought best , to save his family.

You can nit pick, and point fingers, but bottom line, he put himself at risk, to save his family.

He and His wife could probably have survived for a couple of weeks , without food, the children wouldnt.

Author: Herb
Thursday, December 07, 2006 - 2:23 pm


What a foulmouth and uncivil bunch.

Don't worry Wayne. Plenty of civil posters are interested in what you have to say.

Consider the source.

Herb

----
I know Herb. Some people just can't keep their mind off of their politics. I wonder what the onlookers think of the foulmouths that are on the forum.

I saw a map of his route. What a pitiful series of events. In following the creek as he did, he traveled about 10 miles total, but ended up about a mile or so from the car. He had gone in sort of a circle. Probably difficult terrain though between him and the car. He was also about a mile and a half from a summer lodge. I assume if he had found that, he could have broken in for shelter and perhaps even have found a phone and possibly food.

On the subject of his leaving the car, I don't think any one of us know what we might have done if we had been there for something like 7 days with two infants, running out of food and heat. Would we continue to sit, or would we try something. I don't think anyone knows until they have been there in that circumstance.

I know when I drive in an area like that and its dark and I can't see because the weather is bad I panic. I wonder if thats what he might have done here. You mentioned there was a cell phone in the car. I wonder if the wife tried to use it to call the authorities. What would there be to see in an area like that except for a lot of snow on the ground? It would have been better if the family had waited until the weather was warmer.

Wayne,

Do you watch TV or read the newspaper? Can you?

Do you care about anything besides your politics, mrs. M?

What in the world does the above question have to do with politics?

Why can't you keep with the topic?

Her point is that this topic has been covered VERY WELL in the newspaper and TV. And to have missed some very basic information, Wayne, suggests that you don't read the paper or watch TV.

So she was asking.

THAT'S what it has to do with the topic.

Now you know.

Plan on using that information to, you know, form another opinion? Because there is much more information to be had for you. Not a big deal. But there is.

What does that matter? A fellow died trageclly and we are trying to deal with it appropriately. The only she can deal with any subject is to smear anyone she disagrees with.