Now that winter is here, it's time to take certain precautions in the cold and snowy places like here in Western New York. I didn't write this. I'm simply quoting from a message I received, but nevertheless it is sound advice, especially for us adventurous types! Please send this to your family and friends as well!

Greetings,

We here in Southern Oregon have watched a tragedy unfold that has captured the attention of the nation. I am speaking about what happened to the Kim family from San Francisco.

If you have not heard, the Kim family was on vacation over the Thanksgiving holiday. They went up to Seattle and were returning home to the Bay area. They thought they would cross over to the Coast and stay at a Motel in Gold Beach, Oregon. They missed the turn off I-5 and the highway they should have taken. They consulted the Internet and it directed them to a route that they never should have taken. For what the Internet showed as a route to Gold Beach from Grants Pass, Oregon was actually a death trap. The road the Internet told them to take is treacherous even in the summer. It is a single lane road with turnouts and it traverses some of the steepest and most forboding Wilderness you will EVER see. The only ones who would ever have a good reason to take this road are Loggers and Fire fighters. In the Summer it is a heavily used road because it follows the Rogue River and those floating the river use it for access and as a supply route.

But, in Winter it becomes unpassable and there is almost no road traffic up there. It is unmaintained and when the snows close it, it will be closed except for Cross Country Skiers and Snowmobilers.

So the Kim's chose this route not knowing what I know. As they were attempting this route, a storm did close in and they were trapped by whiteout conditions and very heavy snowfall. They crashed their car and became stranded. They were trapped for seven days. Finally after seven days and with what supplies they did have running low, the Father James Kim set out to try to find help for his family. Two days later a helicopter did find his wife and daughters who had stayed with the car. James was still missing and we all were hoping for a happy outcome. It was not to be and yesterday they discovered his body.

THIS is what I want all of you to remember. Please listen to me because I am a trained EMT and I have done numerous Search and Rescues. What I am going to tell you WILL save your life!!

If you will travel at all, and especially in the Winter have an emergency pack with you and check it frequently. Make sure you have water, nonperishable food, space blankets, hat, gloves, mirror, whistle, Fusees/ Flares, and something to start a fire with. I also carry a first aid kit and Military smoke cannisters. You will need a compass......do not ever travel without a Cell Phone!! The Mom and the kids were located because they kept trying to use their Cell. Even if it looks like you are not getting a signal...we know now that a ping signal is sent to the nearest tower and it can record that. This is how they narrowed the search that found the wife and the kids.

BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE!! IF YOU EVER, AND I MEAN EVER FIND YOURSELF IN A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE......

DO NOT LEAVE ROADWAYS!! EVER!!! This was the biggest and maybe only real mistake James Kim made. It killed him and it will kill you too! Stay on Roads!! You are visible and roads will be swept. I have done many searches and we always quickly and easily find those who stay on roads!

If you never remember anything else you ever get from me.....please remember this. PRINT THIS OUT IF YOU MUST! But put a survival kit together anytime you are traveling.

You never know when it could be you!!

_________________
2003 Renegade 4X4 5-Speed, Bright Silver *TRADED for 2013 Wrangler*
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Garmin GPSMAP 76S
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Support the 2nd Amendment - It's your right!

It's sad. There is a google earth tracing of James Kim's path. He had a 50-50 chance of taking the right path but took the road that led him away from a hunting lodge. Why he decided to leave the road, back track and walk along a stream I don't know, but he actually died just down hill from where he started and less than a mile from that same Hunting lodge that would have been only a few miles down the road if he would have taken the other road to begin with. That area is like a spiders web of roads and logging trails, even if he would have chosen the right path, I don't know if he still would have picked the left fork leading to the Lodge.





I always carry space blankets, matches, a good plastic hiking compass, maps and an optimus stove which can bascially use any liquid fuel. I even got one of those flannel roll up sleeping bags.

Survivorman is a great show to watch for winter survival tips. Almost everypart of the car can be used, carpets, foam padding and liners for blankets, Gas and oil for combustables, and the tires make great smoke pots that keep burning no matter what.

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2002 Liberty Limited
2.5" Rusty's Coil Lift + OME 927 springs + 1/4" spacers
265x70 Revos
Warn 4x Floods
ARB bumper
TeraFlex extended front bumpstops
Rock Lizard Skink Super Sliders
Bosch Size 86 battery
Jeepin by Al's 4.5 UC Arms
Kryptonite Differential Cover
JBA Bolt on KJ Tri-Angulated 4 Link

I agree completely about carrying supplies with you in case you get stranded. I keep insulated coveralls in the back of my Jeep starting first cold each fall. Also, I have a kit that includes lighter, matches, candle, fire starter blocks, hatchet, shovel, signal mirror, compass, whistle, knife, flashlight, first aid kit, tow rope, camp rope, string, booster cables, Jackall, lined work gloves and a map of my local area with all the side roads. This stays in my Jeep year round. It all fits in a surprisingly small part of the cargo hold. Hopefully I'll never have to use any of it. Whenever I go on a road trip I always carry extra water and granola bars. Staying on the road is definitely the best bet, not just to avoid getting lost: in many areas of North America the wilderness starts just a few feet off the pavement.

We have been discussing this on The Zone for a day or so. The media calls him a hero, I say he was a darn idiot. He was warned against taking that road and anyone who drives something like a Saab front wheel drive station wagon should know the limitations of their vehicle and not take a road it is not suited for. He made many bad choices and his family made the poor choice in trusting him. A classic case of some guy who lives a sheltered life in an office and has no clue what the real world is like. Natural Selection at it's best!

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#074642

Survival kit in vehicle (add to the list if I missed something - be realistic though)

First: A rubbermaid container (or something similar) to put everything in - keeps everything together and dry.
1. Box of Energy bars - they take up very little space
2. Fresh drinking water (one or two gallons)
3. Blankets - two or three (at least one per person)
4. Road Flares - last for a long time and increase visibility
5. Jumper Cables
6. Collapsible Shovel
7. Box of matches/lighter
8. First Aid Kit
9. Mirror (if you don't want to break off your KJ's mirrors
10. Poncho/wet weather clothes
11. Spare clothes (winter - no cotton)
12.
13.
14.


If they were on a road trip, the Kim's should have had plenty of clothing. From the report, he was not very well clothed, right? Hmmm....

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New KJ Gear - Desert Armor Flak

2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod

[b]Retired, US Military

That is a little harsh, not too far off, but harsh. The mistakes that really killed him were made when he left home without extra food, cold weather clothes and weather info. Those are the mistakes that led to his demise. If he had prepared these, all the other little mistakes he made (taking a wrong turn in bad weather and getting stuck) would have been survivable. Anyone can get a car stuck and anyone can get lost. Perhaps another lesson to learn from this is do not trust technology-- otherwise sane and intelligent people will follow a d#$med GPS off the side of a cliff-- and he followed one thinking he was making a good decision-- probably that the gps would not route him on a road that was unsafe.

As for the mistakes he made after leaving his family, when you get lost and don't have food-- you do stupid things. No one can hold him accountable for being delirious and taking the wrong path after walking in the snow-- or taking his clothes off in the cold and leaving them. He had been without food for days and this non-nonsensical behavior is typical of people who are delirious with want of food/shelter/water.

The fact is he did do somethings right-- and his family is alive because of that. He at least made a fire, he rationed the food they did have, he melted snow for water, he rationed the gas trying to keep the family warm, he kept the cell phone with the family and had them repeatedly try to make contact with it and leave it on for prolonged periods of time. Knowing tech-- he knew they would probably be able to track the signal. He had the presence of mind to realize that the car was not going anywhere and that his situation was desperate enough that he should cannibalize the car and use its tires for a fire. Most people would not have been that smart-- and would have kept thinking of the wrecked car as transportation, refusing to part it up and use it for survival tools.

If he had just had more food and better clothes, this situation would have turned out far different, as he would have been able to think clearer and would have stayed in the car longer or followed the road should he have elected to leave the car.

But before we call him an idiot-- realize that 98% of the population are in the same situation every time they travel-- they have done nothing to prepare for an event like this. If most people were caught in this situation, the end result would have likely been the same or worse. So I guess idiocy loves company as much as misery does.

He did the best, He is gone and the Family is in mourn and you still got the nerve to call him "darn idiot " you should be ashame of yourself, hope this
thing wont happen to your nearest of kin.

sp33doe

I cannot believe you could post somehting like this. It just blows my mind how insensitive your comments are. And that you think your better than he is. Shame on you. You made me happy that i've never got around to having a LOST.com banner on my jeep. I would be ashamed of it purely due to you and your post.

He may have made some bad descisions, but I hope that if the time comes, I will risk (and give) my life for my family. My hat is off to you, Mr. Kim.

_________________
'02 limited w/ stuff

Shade...so you are going to blame LOST for his comments?

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New KJ Gear - Desert Armor Flak

2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod

[b]Retired, US Military

no. All i'm saying is the comments made are a disgrace to the forum. I think you guys run an awesome forum here. I simply thought that we, as a community, were much more mature. I do still plan on getting a lostkjs.com banner, but I was just making a point.

You are kidding right? The guy made one huge first mistake. He was not prepared. End of story. Everything else went downhill from there. He was prepared for a nice quiet drive down the paved highway, instead he though taking a nap along a gravel road in the mountains with bad weather on the way. He left the vehicle, which it should be common knowledge to never do this for anyone traveling in the mountains. You go as prepared as possible, you take a vehicle worthy of where you are going and you should at least have a general idea what to do when something does go wrong. Get lost? Turnaround and go back the way you came! Why make things worse? Why should I pity someone who not only foolishly put his family in danger with his poor judgement, but continued to make things worse. I grew up in the mountains and so has just about all of my family. I would have no fear that they would know the basics of how to deal with a situation like this. Why should I pity someone like this? Why should I feel ashamed for stating the absolute truth? Oh and my comments are my own and no one else's so don't blame the whole LOST group for my opinions. I stand by my comments.

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#074642

So are you any better for lumping all of us @ L.O.S.T.? You made it sound like WE all share his opinion. Very ouch, baby!!

_________________
2005 4x4 Sport
Yakima Low Riders
Hidden Hitch
MOPAR tow hooks
RL Skink Step Sliders
Magnaflow
3/4 armored
235/70/16 Grabber AT 2
and a lot of little stuff...

That is a little harsh, natural selection or not. The guy got lost and did what he felt he had to do to save his family. The guys not an idiot, the guys not a hero, he's a normal family man that did what he felt was right to try and save his family. It is extremly sad that it ended the way it ended. Should he have turned around probally, should he have stayed and waited for help probally, should he have had proper equiptment probally, but he didn't. My heart goes out to that mans family and I respect what he tried to do. Keep in mind not everybody lives or grew up in the moutains, not everybody has a history of Boy Scouts or basic survival skills. Bottom line is.... He tried to save his family. If I was in the same situation I would have probally done the same. Just remember Elwenil, while that is your opinion some opinions are better left unsaid. And trust me I am about as anti PC as you can get but having a little tact and compasion goes a long way. I just hope that you realize that one day before your put in a compromising position and have to make a choice. Don't call him an idiot because he doesn't have the same knowledge base as you. The man died trying to save his family remember that and what would you do in his position. I would gladly give my life so that my son and fiancee could live on. Don't be so harsh even if it's just an opinion.


Parakeet

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Oh MAN I got NATURE on my Jeep.
05 KJ Renny that took the bad economy bullet

89 XJ that thinks tax time is Christmas

I will have another KJ I promise.

I saw a similar story on Discovery Channels "I Shouldn't Be Alive". It was a young married couple and their infant sun. They were driving through the mountains in a similar area and it started snowing heavily enough to lose track of the road. By time the snow stopped, they were miles from anything and there was no sign of the road they came in on (since they had been driving in the dark previously).

They did what most people would have done, which is to stay with the vehicle as long as possible, but they soon realized that nobody was looking for them and they weren't anywhere that they could be found. They walked for a day or two in attempt to find anyone that could help, but then the wife and child couldn't keep going. The husband had to make a decision to leave them holed up in a cave with what little supplies they had and continue to look for help. The only difference is that in this case, he managed to find help, was able to tell them where the cave was that his wife and child were in (and had the sense to mark a nearby tree with something brightly colored), and everyone survived, against all odds.

Now I guess the real thing to do to try to mitigate that sort of risk is to make sure somebody knows where you are going and how you are getting there before you leave. That way if you don't show up, they will know to look for you and more importantly WHERE to look for you. Doesn't help if you end up off the road or taking a different route, but it's better than nothing.

So if anyone is interested in a depressing documentary:

Lost in the Snow (can I just say that I hate the automatic text replace of "l o s t"?)

The Survivors: James and Jennifer Stolpa
The Dilemma: Could you abandon your wife and baby in a snowstorm?

A U.S. Army private is driving to a family funeral with his wife and 4-month-old son. They get caught in a blizzard, and a simple wrong turn leads them deep into a frozen wilderness where their car gets stuck in a snowdrift. After surviving for days with no provisions they realize that there is little hope of rescue. They decide to abandon their vehicle and walk to find help. But in this unforgiving environment they are soon overcome by exhaustion and frostbite. The young family has to confront the real possibility that they are not going to survive. Should the father say goodbye to his wife and baby and try to make it out alone? Or should they stay together as a family – whatever the cost?

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Jeff 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade
4x4, 6spd, Leather, Sunroof, trak-loc, skids/rails, hitch+shackle, hooks, Alpine/iPod, Thule, GPS, CB, Frankenlifted w/ 31" MTRs
Photos Cardomain

Two points:

1. Everybody should count their blessings if they haven't faced a situation like that.

2. We apply the term hero too freely anymore.

_________________
Matt B.

05 Limited CRD. Bought it new. 112k on the clock now.

GDE Eco-tune, rear differential drain plug (drilled and tapped the pumpkin), transmission pan drain plug, Fumoto oil valve, fuel filler neck restriction removed, front hitch, Hayden fan clutch, Sears P1 battery since 08, Mobil 1 5w40, 5 volt glow plugs, DIY timing belt at 109k

Elwenil

do you want to be called an "idiot"???? i know you gonna raise hell if you will be called an "IDIOT"

sp33doe

I just found some interesting information on the wikipedia article. It says that the helicopter pilot reports that he started searching after seeing footprints in the snow that probably belonged to James Kim. So it seems that his decision to leave the car may have indirectly contributed to his families rescue? Who can ever know for sure. We do know that they stayed with the car for 7 days before he decided to start walking. 7 days seems like about long enough to stay with the car to me, I would have tried something else, too.

_________________
Jeff 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade
4x4, 6spd, Leather, Sunroof, trak-loc, skids/rails, hitch+shackle, hooks, Alpine/iPod, Thule, GPS, CB, Frankenlifted w/ 31" MTRs
Photos Cardomain

How to avoid that crap ?

Carry a few pounds of Magnisium and start a 5500 degree fire and wait for help...it will be there shortly.

Sit back a few hundred yards and eat your peanut M&M's and MRE.

I've been called worse in person and on the net. I don't sweat it. I say what I mean and I don't pull any punches, I'd expect the same from anyone. Anything less is almost like you are being dishonest. As for being an "idiot" here's this:



Now I may be foolish at times but I have an IQ of 167 so I'm a tic or two above the average. This means nothing since the guy worked for his father's aerospace company or something to that effect, so I am quite sure he was an over achiever in that respect but like many people, they have all kinds of college and "book sense" but very little common sense. Unfortunately, it's the very lack of common sense that seems to get most people in trouble in these situations. There should be college classes on common sense if you ask me. Now I may be callous and harsh, but I am saddened by this sort of thing. Not because of him, but because his family has to live on without him and deal with that the rest of their lives, all because of poor decisions and a lack of common sense. Again I am saddened by the complete stupidity that the media and just foolish people in general that would call this guy a hero when there are so many more people that do so much every single day of their life that don't even get a thank you. Want a real hero? Try a policeman, fireman, volunteers, and above all and most importantly, our soldiers fighting for our rights and those of people who cannot fight for themselves. Based on the facts in evidence, Kim did act foolishly and senselessly. It may have been the best he could do, but in the end, the definition of "idiot" still applies in my honest opinion.

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#074642

They should have bought a liberty! And all that other preparation stuff that has been mentioned.

I am just glad that they all didnt die out there. HOORAH for the Search and rescue crew!

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It may be that your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

06 CRD Sport
Built 5/11/06
Jeep Green
Rocklizard diff cover
V6 Airbox