He had an infinite number of chances to turn back... He could have retraced his path when he realized he missed the planned turn. He could have turned around when the pavement ended. He could have turned around when he first saw snow. He could have turned around when he realized the map was not a good representation of where he was at. He could have turned around when he reached the first confusing intersection. He could have turned around when that little voice of uncertainty started pounding in his brain. What's the difference?
here are the facts. it was at or below freezing. You can only survive so long in that kind of weather especially malnourished and w/o adaquate clothing stop with the if/when/how/should of/could of speculation and show some respect.
Nice post Rim. You know what you're talking about. My wife (who's from Calgary) always loads the car with blankets, food, water, candles (for warmth), and warm clothes and boots when we're traveling outside of city limits in winter. Even if we're sticking to the major highways. It doesn't take much room or effort and can save your life. She's the smart one in our family. Not trying to be harsh on Kim here. Just pointing out that this tragedy was a result of a series of poor decisions. No less tragic. And all my sympathies to the family. But they never should have been in that position. Especially with a toddler and baby. Very sad all around.
Thanks. And you said it better than I did... I'm not trying to come down on Kim... just pointing out what could have been done to prevent this in the hopes that others who might find themselves in a similar situation won't come to a tragic end.
Agreed. What do you do officially, rim? I never put the moniker and profession together. Tragic, tragic story. I've never been to Southern Oregon but have had an odd fascination with it for about the past year or two - to the point where it's on the top of my list of places to retire to (in 30 or 40 years, I guess!). I have been to plenty of other places with treachorous, dangerous roads, high in the mountains, or in snow, etc....and without a doubt, there is ALWAYS a voice in the back of your head that tells you when to turn back. You don't always do it, of course, but the voice is there nonetheless.
Uh...why so hostile? I was literally asking because I hadn't read all the details of the story. Beyond that, it was a little hard to really say what he should have/could have done because I didn't know the details. Maybe he was trying to turn around? Maybe he didn't realize it before it was too late? Maybe it was snowing steadily before he ever turned? I don't know, that's why I was asking. In any case, I think you give some great advice. It's just that every situation has it's own story, and I was trying to learn what they were on this one.
I think RIm is involved in some search and rescue. In fairness to the Kim family, it looks like they did have food, water and blankets. And that they stayed put for 7 days. And they informed people where they were going. I don't know what you do after that when you are caught in that situation??? The mistakes they made were attempting such a remote road, Mr Kim trying to backcountry it (rather than sticking to the road), and not leaving a trail from the family to him. Again....i'm not trying to blame...or dismiss the tragedy. But it hits home. I had a friend killed in a backcountry accident -- skiing when avalanch danger was high -- , and know others who've had close calls. And....when younger...I've been guilty of backcountry hiking in a T-shirt and runners, and skiing out of bounds. I hope I'm not sounding too judgemental or uncaring. I do feel for the family. I don't mean to imply in any way that they 'had it coming.' Just a caution to all of us not to put ourselves in that position.
Sorry. It wasn't intended as hostile... meant it to be read with tragic resignation and trying to point out that it didn't really matter... He stumbled into a bad situation by trying to do something he hadn't planned on doing and was not prepared to do.
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,235018,00.html Kim's wife, Kati, 30, told officers that the couple made a wrong turn and became stuck in the snow. They used their car heater until they ran out of gas, then burned tires to stay warm and attract attention. They tried to put wood underneath their car to keep it dry to burn. With only a few jars of baby food and limited supplies, Kati Kim nursed her daughters Penelope, 4, and Sabine, 7 months. The family burned tires in an attempt to create signal flares, authorities said. At night, they huddled together for warmth. Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings said Thursday that Kim left the car shortly before 8 a.m. last Saturday to get help. Right before he left, he built a fire for the family, and he and Kati studied an Oregon map to determine which route he should take. "They thought the Hanna police was just about four miles away, when in reality, it was probably more like 15 miles away," Hastings said. "James thought he could reach it in a couple of hours ... he was trying to get to a road, to flag down some help." Kim's family told authorities that when he left, he was wearing tennis shoes, pants and a heavy coat, but no hat. His family said he had some outdoor experience, and authorities said he was carrying two lighters. Despite his plan, Kim never came back. Hastings said Kim traveled about 10 miles from the car before he died and said there was no way he could have reached the car directly from where he was found. He was discovered Wednesday lying on his back in the Big Windy Creek near the Rogue River. He was carrying a backpack that held identification, among other items. Searchers had been following his footprints in the snow and searching by helicopter since his wife and two young daughters were rescued Monday. The key to finding Kati Kim and the two children, police said, was a "ping" from one of the family's cell phones that helped narrow down their location. During the hunt for James Kim, searchers also found pieces of his clothing, which they believed he left and arranged to give searchers clues to his whereabouts in Oregon's Coast Range. Before rescue crews could drop packages with clothing, emergency gear and provisions, a search helicopter spotted Kim's body at the foot of the Big Windy Creek drainage, a half-mile from the Rogue River, where ground crews and helicopters had been searching for days. "He was very motivated," said a tearful Undersheriff Brian Anderson. "We were having trouble in there. He traveled a long distance." CNET's CEO said the company will provide grief counseling for employees. Executives are also trying to determine what type of memorial to provide in Kim's honor.
A lot of emails flowing about this case. Here are excerpts from a couple I've received... Several of us long time cold weather people were discussing the Kim incident this morning, and we all said the same thing: as soon as we read in the paper that they found his pants, we new he was dead. A sufferer of advanced hypothermia is already severely disoriented, when just before death their bodies suddenly releases the last of their warm blood from their cores into their extremities, causing them to feel (ironically) too hot. It's very common to find dead hypothermia victims missing some or all their clothing. and... Remember the Rule of 3s... You can survive... * 3 hours without shelter * 3 days without water * 3 weeks without food
Quick question: At what temperature should dogs be put inside the house if its cold outside? I keep my dogs outside, but when I bring them in, they always are running to get out.
Depends on where you live and the dog... do you have a Mexican Hairless or a Norweigian Elkhound? Check any of a bunch of dog sites to see. At any rate, if they insist on staying outside they're probably OK. Just provide a decent shelter, good food and a little extra for the calories they burn maintaining body heat, watch their paws for cracking, and make sure they have unfrozen water.
Please continue to pray for James Kim's family. Their family was there in a major way for my family and in-laws when my father in-law was in the hospital and passed away. James was very nice, and his parents are among the nicests most supportive and pro-actively nice(if that makes sense) people I know.
