Report: Body of James Kim found - Confirmed :(

Will edit to add link, breaking on tv now

http://www.ktvu.com/news/10436601/detail.html

damn

:cry:

RIP, Mr. Kim.

:(

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for his family. :cry: :cry:

James Kim is not a name I'm familiar with. I apologize in advance if this is something big that everyone's talking about.

while driving through Oregon's coast range.

Apparently they turned off the highway onto a small utility road, reasons unknown, and became lost. The rest of the family and their car was found a couple of days ago. James apparently had "gone for help" and was not with the rest of the family.

"6) Clarification: Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce – information provided earlier of a tip that a person at the chamber of commerce building provided a map and recommended travel routes has been determined to not be credible. Interviews with Kati Kim revealed they chose this route after looking at a State of Oregon map."

The story was that the Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce had told them not to take route 23. But Kati Kim has said that they missed the exit for the 42 and decided to take the 23 after looking at a map of OR. Which map they used is the question. One clearly marks the 23 as "closed in winter", but another, supposedly the Rand McNally, doesn't bear any such warning.

valley on various roads and it's easy enough to get lost. Many of the small dirt roads aren't on the map. This is a bad time of year too with winter storms.

And in the middle of winter storms. And I don't see how a person would mistake a mainroad for a utility road, and decide to drive down it.

be an easy mistake to make, especially if the roads are covered with snow. My husband nearly got us lost in the wilderness near Stanley, Idaho. I knew we were headed someplace we didn't want to go and I had to fight with him to make him turn around and go back. He never had a sense of direction but I do.

driving at night down an unfamiliar utility road during heavy snow, I wouldn't go very far down that road.

Geez, show a little compassion. He's dead. I'm sure that wasn't his plan.

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I was lucky..

SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts)
Tue Dec-05-06 02:11 PM


28. I did a similar thing once on the way to S.Lake Tahoe

after driving all night, I made a rash decision to go "24 miles to S Lake tahoe", instead of taking the interstate "55 miles to RENO, NV)..(why would i want to go to nevada to get to a place in calif?)

FOUR BLOODY HOURS TO GO 24 MILES..
gravel single lane forestry road with no place to turn a stretch van around..

floored it to get it up to 40mph on the uphill parts, and tentatively rode the brakes to keep it under 50 as we careened down the road in parts.

Of course my husband was in S. Lake Tahoe waiting for us, as we were very "over-due"..

We made it, but it was in August, and I cried when we reached a "real road"..My boys were worried about me and didn't understand why I was crying..

an hour after we got to his condo (he was up there working), it started hailing and later snowed.. :scared:.. we dodged a bullet.

20+ years later, the kids still talk about the "roadtrip from hell"..

of time camping around there as well. There are stretches of road going through real wilderness without a cabin or store in sight. My husband and I got stranded a couple of days in a remote campground that he got the car stuck in. We finally dug the car out after two days, but no one came along in those two days. Fortunately we had food, water and camping equipment.

the boys grabbed some chips & sodas, but those were gone an hour after we left home. I left at 11:30 PM so they would sleep all the way there.. Never even took a map with me. I just figured that 395 would take me there, and I'd wing it.

I was not even planniung on telling my husband..wanted to surprise him.. My friend felt weird about it, so she called him after we left. he was expecting us at about 9 AM..we got to his place after 2PM..

We saw ZERO signs of civilization until the last 20 minutes or so on the way into SL Tahoe.. I don;t scare easily, but I was scared to death..:

My boys were 5, 6 & 10 at the time, and believe me when I said "STFU AND SIT DOWN, OR WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE"... for once they paid attention to me :) Coulda heard a pin drop in that van :)

daunting if you have car trouble and have to pull off the road in the more remote areas before you reach the ski areas. I always take a trunkload of supplies with me when I know I'm going to be going through any wilderness area because you just never know and there are so many remote places like in Nevada that you won't see another car all day long. Also, I prefer to camp when I can rather than stay in motels.

No, I'm not trying to sound like a rabid Republican :)

The West can be a very hostile environment if you're not prepared to deal with it on its terms, especially in the mountains in winter, when the weather can get bad really quickly. A lot of roads are not maintained at all - most of the routes across the Sierra Nevadas, for example, and we're talking paved, modern 2-lane roads. Even I-80 and I-5 occasionally get shut down by the weather.

Two hikers were lost for 6 days recently in a small state park in the Santa Cruz mountains near San Jose, CA because they left the established trails and apparently got stuck in a ravine: luckily they were found alive. (See this blog for details) There's a lot of wilderness out here once you get away from the settled areas: it's really easy to get lost, especially if you set out on foot without a map and compass.

I think we get too used to the notion of safety: we're bombarded with ads and other messages on how safe a vehicle is, and how great the GPS receiver is if you get lost and how wonderful the cellphone coverage is that it's easy to forget that it's easy for mechanics and electronics to fail. Or we watch programs like "Survivorman" and "Man vs Wild" and think, we're just as smart as them, surely we can do that too, forgetting all the preparation and practical experience the people in those shows have. I'm not implying Kim was stupid - perhaps just naive and overconfident in a situation he had never been in before.

I do off-road traveling (old mining roads mainly) and camping in the desert. Maybe I'm just getting old and more cautious, but I do try to respect what area can do and try to be prepared: pack several extra days' worth of water and food, adequate clothing and sleeping bags, ham radio for emergencies, first aid kit, check the car (and the spare tire) for problems before leaving, and check with rangers or other locals about road conditions before entering an out-of-the way area.

(Cleita - I just realized that the last DU post I replied to was also by you. Coincidence, I swear I'm not picking on you: I agree with you in both areas)

unprepared that there might not be a hotel, roadhouse or gas station conveniently out there when they need it. Also, cell phone service is sporadic. My late husband and I spent years "out in the woods" so to speak traveling around the westerm part of the USA so we became adapted to dealing with it and thoroughly researching a new place before we plunged in.

Twice I've torn holes in the tank on rocks. Both times
I was able to quickly find a steep slope to park on to stop
the gas pouring out of the hole.

The JB Weld takes 24 hours to dry. I was out walking around
on the road passing the time, only saw two cars all day.

One was an old Datsun. The guy stopped and asked if I was ok.

The other was a late model pickup monster, with smoked windows
I couldn't see inside. He drove right past. As I watched him
drive away I heard him yell out "I have a gun!"

as I understand it, they took a wrong turn, got lost and then got stuck in the snow. There usually isn't snow around here but last week there was.

has the death been confirmed? Perhaps he was unconscoius?

might still be alive?

check the link

No word yet on his condition, but they did find his body.

Now if we read between the lines, I'd say he's dead.

Hopefully he is ok

jeeze but I hate when this happens.

damn damn damn

My deepest thoughts and sympathies to the family.

but how is Mr. Kim a hero?

A person is not a hero just because of some unfathomable tragedy. I think that word gets used far too much, and consequently loses it's real meaning.

But I will agree that the family deserves all of our deepest sympathies.

Sid

Regardless of errors he made, he did do that.

that doesn't really make the mark for "heroic" for me.

i agree that the word "hero" is thrown around far too casually and too often for it to have any real meaning any more.

for instance- nobody should be considered a hero just for putting on a uniform of some kind or another.
being a "hero" requires doing something that really stands out.

does not mean somebody was not heroic.

I agree, the word does get thrown around way to much.

However, heading out into the wilderness while enduring winder storms does strike me as a heroic act.

heading out into the wilderness to look for help after you got your family stuck on a closed logging road- is just sucking it up and trying to take responsibility for the stupid actions/decisions that got you into the mess in the first place. but it definitely ain't heroic.

Well, they already were out in the wilderness.

"just sucking it up and trying to take responsibility for the stupid actions/decisions that got you into the mess in the first place."

Sounds like heroism to me.

as for "heading into the wilderness"- YOU were the one that used those words to describe the knucklehead going for help.

How many people risk their lives to correct their mistakes?

"knucklehead?"

Now that's just fucked up. And they accuse me of being cold and callous.

Good luck correcting that mistake.

why did it take him almost a week to muster up the gumption to do so?

the word "hero" has been diluted to the point of meaninglessness in this country.

Probably because he's heard that you're supposed to stay in the car, but came to the conclusion that help wasn't coming.

"the word "hero" has been diluted to the point of meaninglessness in this country."

And what would have you done?

take my family, including 7-month old, down a closed logging road in winter.

Dodging questions strikes me as the opposite of heroic.

The U.P., in January and get back to me, eh?

branches pointing to the car, and dusted any fresh snow off them
every day.

Someone could have made arrows showing where he went when he went out walking,
and could have NOT left the road.

Someone could have made a fire drill so that when his clothes and shoes got
wet he could dry them. Someone could have cut seat upholstry or headliner
material to wrap around his feet and help keep them dry.

Of course once you get hypothermia you can't make a fire even if you have
matches and tinder.

Holding out hope, keeping the family warm and such, running out of food you finally decide to go seek out help. You leave them where they can stay warm, 'indoors' and go out looking for help - Knowing full well you may freeze to death.

Yeah, I called that heroic.

Maybe the wife did not want him to leave... A hard decision to leave your entire family alone out in the middle of nowhere.... How do you know the details of what happened? Are you privy to a source we are not? The family was found due to a ping on their cell-phone and the father left to try to go get help... Where are you getting your details from?

and the timeline laid out.

Or is that your special touch?

which i found to be totally absurd.

but since the word "hero" really has no real or legitimate meaning anymore, so sure- the guy gets lost on a closed logging road in a snowstorm, at night, with a 7-month old infant and a toddler in his charge, and boom- he's a hero.

:eyes:

He did the right thing by staying with his car and family probably thinking someone would be looking for them and they would be rescued. After a week when they were running out of the few supplies they had and it seemed they would not be found then he took the measure of trying to hike out and get help.

Maybe you ought to read a few survival tips.

he needed it more than i.

Cause you'd have musterd up the gumption and died earlier than this guy!

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but it doesn't really matter- the word is meaningless anymore anyway.

but correcting one's own mistakes is the truest form of heroism. That's why we don't have one in the Whitehouse. He won't correct his bloody mistakes. It would take a hero to do that, and we certainly have none.

I am not going to cast any idealism or lack thereof on Mr. Kim. It is for his family to decide.
And I hope you back off and don't make a hasty call on the subject.

another man's POS... So sorry for all those who label and condemn this sad and tragic situation... I am sure the decision to leave his family and go for help was a hard one regardless of how the circumstances occurred, the thought was to find help to save his family...

form dying due to his dunderheaded mistakes. and even then it took him almost a week to muster up the gumption.

look at life through negative colored glasses... I don't know the details and what went on, but I believe he made the decision to leave to try to get help for his family to save them... You can believe what you want....

didn't indicate that the road he took was closed in the winter. And now he's dead. I'm sure his family is blaming him for being a dunderhead.

:eyes:

The things I see on a 'progressive' board.

please don't confuse me with this guy/gal.

Ever petitioned the mods for a name change?

How'd that happen?

I've only heard it mentioned once, but the helicopter pilot who picked up the wife had been running a grid search after the cellphone pings were detected. As he came over the roadway he saw a very clear footpath through the snow and turned his helicopter to follow it. That's when he stumbled across Kati Kim walking along with her daughters. We know now that the original tracks he saw were from the husband.

If he hadn't walked out, the pilot wouldn't have seen the track, wouldn't have turned his chopper, and might have missed the wife. He would have come back across that area during his next grid pass, but because she was walking it's entirely possible that he would have missed her (she might have been further up the road). His trail led the chopper pilot to his wife and children.

It may have been unintentional, but his leaving may have saved their lives, and certainly lead to them being rescued more quickly. It's unfortunate that he died without knowing that he'd helped to save them. As a parent, I can only imagine the torment he must have felt as he collapsed in that ravine, imagining his wife and children freezing on the ridge above him.

Because that's about the only thing I can think of that would help, a bit, if I were her.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/07/PILOT.TMP

He didn't get his family stuck, shit happens when you have a blizzard. What an absurd notion on your part.

save someone else?

Have you ever " put on a uniform", and I mean to
serve in the military?

Have you ever risked your life-----?

"Airborne rescuers spotted a flash in a heavily wooded area and then caught a glimpse of a man laying face down they believe may be missing San Francisco resident James Kim in the Oregon wilderness Wednesday.

Searchers were being lowered from the helicopter to assist the man.

There was no immediate word on his condition."

for his young family.

:cry:

That's what's so damned sad.. I know that most men would feel like they needed to go out and save the family, but you are ALWAYS better off with the vehicle.. At least it gives shelter from the wind and wet..

It's just sad all around.. What a sad end to what was supposed to be a happy family trip:cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

:(

Damn.

:( :cry:

this is sad.

It does not reflect the article and he's not being reported as dead, which many will assume reading what you've written. Thanks.

he is dead. Please edit - James Kim was found.

That would be best at this point, imho.

:hug:

Doesn't say body.

This story seemed particularly dear to your heart... did you know him?

At this moment, anyway, there's still hope. I think if he were known to be dead they'd say so... it wouldn't take long to send a message to the family first, and they'd announce it right afterwards.

He is a Digital Audio product reviewer for CNET. I have been reading his reviews for years.

I've been following this story and was so happy when the wife and kids were found. I really had a lot of hope for James Kim because I'd read a book-true story-where a man was lost for weeks in the winter in the mountains in California and managed to stay alive.

on edit...Rest in Peace James....

He could be unconscious, I'm not giving up on him yet.

Have you heard more?

He was not found face down

They will link with the press conference in a few minutes. Let's hope, hope, hope.

not to be a major pessimist, were he found alive, they would have announced it. Probably they held off on an announcement to notify the family.

Shit.

conflicting reports.

Let's hope for the best. Press conference soon to start they say.

so sad!

there's a link to watch live streaming coverage.

It looks like they waited too long to start dropping rescue packages. This should have been started as soon as they knew they were missing and had the slightest idea of where they might be. They try to focus too hard on the high tech rescue solutions. Low tech is also the way to go.

One is saying "conflicting reports" and "James Kim found?"--which make it sound like he may not have been found yet, in whatever condition.

The other is saying his condition is unknown.

Nope... now they're saying that report was wrong. It's still on the ground. Could that be a good thing--they're getting him stabilized before they lift off?

*heavy sigh*

Body of missing man found. How sad.

He did what he had to do to save his family. Gods bless him.

made during the mine tragedy.

No medivac helo lifted off yet. The Body was located at 12:03 in the area of the search area. windy Creek area.

Just bought an MP3 player this am for our son based on the Cnet review by Kim

:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

...

:cry:

The poor family.

wish he had stayed in the car yet he was only trying to save his family.:cry: :cry:

I don't doubt he believed he was doing the right and noble thing. I'm sure they were terrified and he thought it was their best hope. I can't say that I wouldn't have done the same thing.

to venture out to find help. This is too sad.

to have tried to save his family as he did.

I am having a huge bawling cry right now. It's been a looong time.

He'd consider the rescue a success no matter what happened to him.

I've read that hypothermia isn't a bad way to go. Probably he wasn't aware of what was actually happening.

This is so sad. RIP, James. :cry:

in the same area where they were tracing James Kim's footprints? Now I'm wondering if it was hypothermia he died of or worse. They've said that he had taken wilderness training, but the odds change with unpredictable wildlife added to survival.

Cause of death would be exposure, exhaustion, or complications thereof. Perhaps from a fall.

Do some not hibernate?

How cold it is, how much snow their is, availability of food, etc.

It's not that cold, and there's no snow pack at this location.

Just saw him last night at my compost. They are still fattening up for hibernation around here; this early winter may have thrown bears for a loop. But if they were dropping survival bags around in the woods down there, I'd venture to say any food in them would have been fair game for any living thing.

:(

he perished during the first night. One report said he was only a few miles from the car. My guess would be that if he had planned to return to them at 1Pm on the day he left, and he left at 7:30 am (that's what the report said), he expected to be "out there" for only 5-6 hours.. that would be in line with the distance he covered too. he may have slipped and hurt himslef, and remember he had not been eating anything but some berries (the kids & wife ate the food they had). he left in a weakened condition after a week, and he probably did not last very long :cry:

I know he was trying to save his family, and God bless him for that, but I wish he had stayed. :cry:

It's a miracle that the family was found in the first place. They could have all died. Although, it doesn't seem like he knew what he was doing when he set out.

It's just so tragic.

The stream he was following down dumped into the Rogue river a half-mile from a large cabin camp. He was found a half mile from the junction of the creek and the river, and only a mile from that camp. If he had ANY idea that it was there, it might have been a tempting target, "Hike a couple miles down this creekbed, hang a left at the river for half a mile, and I'll be at a cabin camp that will probably have firewood, and might have food and a radio". After nine days, it might have seemed like a reasonable solution. Sadly, he wouldn't have known how steep that creek dropped, and the icy conditions would have made climbing down those boulders incredibly dangerous. It's also steep enough that once he committed himself to it, he may not have been able to hike back up.

I was afraid when they said they were finding pieces of clothing that he might have become disoriented by hypothermia.

He was a hero, trying to save his family. This was a terrible trajedy.

the fight-or-flight instinct is hard to overcome. My sympathies to his family.

Rest knowing that your wife and daughters are safe.

2 sad

I pretty much figured he was dead. My dad died of exposure when I was a kid. Mid-February up here in Wyoming, similar elements if not worse than those Coast Ranges. Sympathies to friends and family.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

beautiful family!!!!!

Bless you!

in if a memorial fund is started and I urge all of DU to do the same.

RIP James. Your courage defines you.

His family lived -- he got what he most wanted. He clearly would have died for them . Quite a guy.

Rest in peace James.

Heartbreaking.

women.

Maybe the compassionate posters herein will help change others' callous opinions about those victims and the media coverage of them.

:cry:

Right now.
http://www.quakeradio.com/pages/dynamic.html?feed=119934&article=361024

It sounds to me (alaskan, and hear survival stories every year) like he was hypothermic and that's why he left the road. It causes dementia, and then tiredness and then it's the long sleep.

I send my prayers to his family. When they found his pants I was stricken. :(

Dunno why, but this story really got to me.

BTW - for the people who think he was dumb to leave for help ... there are also stories of success.

For people staying with the car, there are stories of failure.

I hope the family finds peace.

Just a terrible shame.

If you read it, you'll see what they were up against.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/06/BAKIM06.DTL

Rest in peace, James Kim.

They're both heroic to me, having done all they could to save their children and themselves -- Kati nursing their kids and James setting off on foot. While it would've been smart to also stay at the car, I can't fault him for trying to hike for help after so many days stranded. I've done some winter Forest Service road hiking in the mountainous Inland Pacific Northwest and it's treacherous territory, no matter how peaceful and pretty it looks; just a few mistakes and a lot can go wrong quickly. To me, it's amazing they had the fortitude and ingenuity to last the first week. From the info. at KATU it seems he traveled about 8 miles on his trek ... unbelievable, especially given the condition he must have been in the last few days. (There's a good search timeline and video at www.katu.com.)

Healing blessings to Kati and their friends and family. :cry:

but his wife sustained those children to live. So sad.

It was on the road, and in the sky.

They have my deepest sympathies.

:cry:

I wish it had turned out differently

He gave it his all. Please, do not travel mountain roads at night in the winter!

I want to send my deepest condolences to his family and friends. I did not know him but from what I heard and read of him, he seemed like a great guy who loved his family dearly. It seems like the good always die young. I will never understand why it is.


John