James Kim's path courtesy of Google Earth

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well off to walmart to buy some camping supplies to leave in the car eh? i want one of those keychain flints...
they have hatchets for 7bucks go figure
machetes too

how about a satellite phone? and dried food - jerky, pea soup, etc. plus matches, woollen blankets

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: MotionMan
Is there one article (link please) that provides a summary of what happend to them (what kind of car they were driving, where they were coming from and going to, why they were on that road, how and why they got stuck, what, if anything, they did to try to get found at the car, when and why he left, etc.)? Or should I wait for the movie of the week about it?


MotionMan

ditto

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
In reference to the other "survival" thread, this is precisely why you stay put. Especially in terrible weather you aren't equiped to traverse through.

It is a sad lost, however what Kim did was the correct course of action under the circumstance. They have stayed put for days, and his action was the last resource to seek help because they could be running low of food (especially for the children), and fuel (heat source). He must be quite desperate to adventured off so far in harsh condition, because most well traverse person would scout each day in different direction to seek civilization/help (first day would be about 1/3 of day light & gradually increase travel time to make sure that they can double back to where they set off from, and leaving markers including time is standard).

The only thing that I fault him for was his adventurous nature that took over his logic and drive down a poor/low traffic/unfamiliar road in snowing condition instead of staying on the freeway.

Golden rule of thumb, adventurous drives involve safety gears (GPS beacon/CB radios), food/water, and tell people where you are going & when they should expect your arrival/regular check in phone call, and travel in group/multiple vehicles if possible. Also, drive in daylight and make sure there is enough gas to double back to the last known gas station, and given enough time to double back to safety before dust.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: benchiu

Jones said Kim apparently walked along the road for four or five miles. Then, his tracks crossed paths with a big black bear headed downhill across the road. Jones speculated that Kim headed down the steep ravine to avoid the animal, which appears to have followed him.

This is probably why he left the road.

Taken from http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/1207/local/stories/kim-rescueworkers.htm

Highly unlikely that the bear would followed him. Most if not all animals find away to keep way from human, unless they are cornered/trapped/sick/defending their offspring.

If could be that he was spooked and ran off the road when he saw the bear.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: NL5
For all of you asking about GPS and cell phones -

He was in rugged undeveloped timber country. Maps are almost useless, and gps even more so. He was out of cell phone coverage area, so the cell phone did not work. It managed to ping a tower once or twice, and that is how they were able to find the car. Logging roads do not show up on a gps for the most part, and they are constantly changing. Once he started hiking, and left the road a handheld gps becomes USELESS in old growth timber. I firmly believe he was aready suffering hypothermia when he left the road. Anyone that's hiked thru the forest in Western Oregon/Washington can tell you, it's rough going. He was hiking through a rain forest covered in snow. I hunt every year in a similiar terrain, and when properly prepared it is dangerous, I can't even imagine trying under the circumstances poor James faced. It truly was a death sentence the minute he decided to leave that car......

It's a shame he didn't think to build a really big antenna.

It would be easier to build a big signal fire.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

Originally posted by: vi_edit
In reference to the other "survival" thread, this is precisely why you stay put. Especially in terrible weather you aren't equiped to traverse through.

It is a sad lost, however what Kim did was the correct course of action under the circumstance. They have stayed put for days, and his action was the last resource to seek help because they could be running low of food (especially for the children), and fuel (heat source). He must be quite desperate to adventured off so far in harsh condition, because most well traverse person would scout each day in different direction to seek civilization/help (first day would be about 1/3 of day light & gradually increase travel time to make sure that they can double back to where they set off from, and leaving markers including time is standard).

The only thing that I fault him for was his adventurous nature that took over his logic and drive down a poor/low traffic/unfamiliar road in snowing condition instead of staying on the freeway.

Golden rule of thumb, adventurous drives involve safety gears (GPS beacon/CB radios), food/water, and tell people where you are going & when they should expect your arrival/regular check in phone call, and travel in group/multiple vehicles if possible. Also, drive in daylight and make sure there is enough gas to double back to the last known gas station, and given enough time to double back to safety before dust.

Completely false. First of all we have the wife and kid who stayed put and lived then we have James who went of into the woods and died. He was no where near starvation when he left because people starving to death can't walk for miles.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: smack Down

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

Originally posted by: vi_edit
In reference to the other "survival" thread, this is precisely why you stay put. Especially in terrible weather you aren't equiped to traverse through.

It is a sad lost, however what Kim did was the correct course of action under the circumstance. They have stayed put for days, and his action was the last resource to seek help because they could be running low of food (especially for the children), and fuel (heat source). He must be quite desperate to adventured off so far in harsh condition, because most well traverse person would scout each day in different direction to seek civilization/help (first day would be about 1/3 of day light & gradually increase travel time to make sure that they can double back to where they set off from, and leaving markers including time is standard).

The only thing that I fault him for was his adventurous nature that took over his logic and drive down a poor/low traffic/unfamiliar road in snowing condition instead of staying on the freeway.

Golden rule of thumb, adventurous drives involve safety gears (GPS beacon/CB radios), food/water, and tell people where you are going & when they should expect your arrival/regular check in phone call, and travel in group/multiple vehicles if possible. Also, drive in daylight and make sure there is enough gas to double back to the last known gas station, and given enough time to double back to safety before dust.

Completely false. First of all we have the wife and kid who stayed put and lived then we have James who went of into the woods and died. He was no where near starvation when he left because people starving to death can't walk for miles.

Correct that people can't walk with out food. My post above suggested that they are running ?low? of food instead of starving.

Staying in on place have the greatest chance of bing found when lost. However, seaking out for help would greatly increase your chance of survival if there is more than one person. And, it can be done safely if some of the survival steps that indicated above is taken, such as built signal fire, leaving markers, tell your partner where you are going, stay on the road, stay visible, and making sure you have more than enough time to double back in daylight hours.

 

[0roo0roo]

yet more new info, he walked 16 miles not 10.
they were 7 miles from the lodge, not 1.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003470027_webkim09.html

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Is the lodge closed down this time of year? Would there be at least a couple cars going or coming to the lodge within 7-8 day period? If so, it would seem that the stranded car would have been seen.

But, I am a southerner who has never seen more than 2' of snow. Seeing that map and the terrain involved is tough.

Wow, I read this on Verizon news, but they didn't mention it was James Kim and I didn't relate it to the Dailytech Article I saw. But, in the report they said the lodge was closed, but stocked full of food.

I don't know if this was in the original article, but the Verizon news story stated that vandals must have cut the lock that gates off that logging road.

 

[0roo0roo]

wonder if these maps are now inaccurate now that its known he walked much farther? any updated maps?

 

[Dacalo]

Update from SF Gate. It also has timeline for those who didn't follow from the beginning. Some insights as well, it looks like someone tipped the authorities that there were fresh tire tracks on the road and they ignored it :roll:

Timeline

 

[QED]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
wonder if these maps are now inaccurate now that its known he walked much farther? any updated maps?

This site has updated maps with the car's real location...

It's really sad when you realize how close they were to the lodge... and that James had walked right past the road that led down to it probably on his first day of walking.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Fern

Cellphones rarely work in these type areas. Even if a tower is technically within reach, the high terrian usually blocks the signal unless you get the top of a mountain which is very difficult.

When I climbed up Mt. St. Helens, my phone showed full bars, but I could not complete a call. It would just keep failing.