Stranded and Fighting for Survival in a Snowstorm | The Kim Family Tragedy
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- On November 25, 2006, James Kim, an American television personality, his wife Kati & two daughters headed down from Seattle, Washington, on Interstate 5, back towards their home in San Francisco, California. After fueling gas north of Eugene, they were planning to stay at a resort in Gold Beach, Oregon, yet they somehow missed Highway 42 to the north, the main approach to the coast. Checking a road map, they saw Bear Camp Road as being an alternative approach & they ventured onto it, passing the gate, which was left open. It turns out BLM had left the gate open to avoid trapping local hunters & others who ventured past it.
The Kim family made it to this intersection and made the fateful mistake of heading the right approach down an isolated rough logging road in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. For about 23 miles, they ventured on the slow windy road before they stopped at about 1AM on November 26 from fatigue & bad weather. Low on fuel as more snow fell around their immobilized station wagon. James, Kati, and their two daughters were now stranded in a foreign environment, with no one knowing where they were.
0:00 Introduction
0:51 The Pacific Northwest
1:52 The Kim Family Ordeal
10:34 The Search
15:56 The Aftermath
20:05 Conclusion/Survival Tips
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Shout out to @costernocht for bringing this story to my attention. Copyright © 2023 Outdoor Disasters. All rights reserved. - Zábava
Shout out to subscriber @costernocht for bringing this story to my attention! I'm always open to suggestions. There are so many interesting stories out there, hard to find them all.
One correction at 6:29. They were driving a Saab, not a Subaru.
Vagely remember this story. But researching the Kim Tragedy for this video, I was really captivated by this ordeal. As many stories on this channel, it was so preventable. Staying at a hotel off I-5 would've saved them.
As many of us know, staying at your car is the best chance of survival. And the Kim did that for a week. They burned their tires, made SOS signs, etc. What makes this story so tragic is that if James would've stayed put a couple more days, they would've been found. I don't blame him for leaving as they've been at the car for many days. I'm sure at that point they felt they were a few days from starving to death. But he should've stayed on the road, not traversing down a canyon.
Can't imagine of James's dad is going through losing his son. He's looking for answers. Blaming the search teams publicly in a large publication was not warranted.
Anways, thank you all for your support. This channel is growing way beyond my expectations and it's all because of you! Appreciate you all!
With little amount of food he ate over the past 5-6 days he wasn’t thinking right; when you are in peril body will always do path of least resistance. Sadly the way he went was right to a river that wouldn’t have helped at all.
Take the signs, and warnings from the locals, seriously. These folks know the terrain, you don’t…and never use gps in a desert either.
This case has been covered on the MrBallen channel, so I already knew about it, but you did a good presentation of the incident.
Even 50 cent hand warmers would have kept them warm if put under their clothes. This was such a sad story 🙏
Well done! Hindsight, when sitting in the comfort of our homes, is 20/20. There’s no telling how any of us would have reacted in similar circumstances.
There’s another Oregon story you might be interested in. December 2008. It concerns 3 climbers trying to summit Mt Hood. They were stranded and one died. His body was recovered. It was in the news for many days. I don’t believe the other two men were ever found. They were men in their 30’s and very experienced climbers. Mt Hood is 11,000 plus feet tall. You wouldn’t think it’d be so difficult to climb. Yet 20-25 people annually have to be rescued off the mountain. Dozens have died there.
I was in Yosemite National Park in July 2011 climbing Sentinel Dome. That day 3 young mist trail hikers were swept over 317 foot Vernal Fall. It’s an outdoor disaster with many teaching opportunities about swift currents, ice cold water, and rock polished to slipperiness by raging waters.
I grew up in Grants Pass and I was living there at the time this happened. It was so, so tragic, especially because of the chain of events that led to worse and worse decisions. Some things I want to point out:
The search area to start with was massive. Knowing where they were last seen and their destination, the search area started along the most logical routes for them to take. Imagine an area the size of Rhode Island that is 95% undeveloped forest. It wasn't until days later that the cell phone ping was discovered and the search area was focused to the south. There is a highway from Grants Pass (Hwy 99) that does take you to the coast, but it goes SW from Grants Pass down to the California border which you have to cross before the highway turns NW and you cross back into Oregon, albeit further south than the hotel they had booked at. Where they booked their hotel was due east of Grants Pass and there are no year round roads to the coast that run due east of Grants Pass, you either take the route near Roseburg that they missed or you take Hwy 99. The Kims thought Bear Camp was just a short cut that goes due east but most local people would never think of taking that route.
Remember this was before smartphones. They had a GPS system they were relying on but it didn't distinguish any difference between a regular two lane road and a road like Bear Camp, so when they were planning their route to the coast they were assuming that Bear Camp was a regular road. Bear Camp is actually a National Forest road and not maintained by the County. The snow plow they saw was likely pulled over waiting for conditions to worsen before they started plowing the more commonly used road that the Kims turned off of. It had to have been in Merlin, OR so the Kims were seriously misjudging how far they had actually travelled. I doubt the plows even get within 5 miles of where Bear Camp turns off of Galice Rd and they were very far up Bear Camp.
The town of Galice (Gah-leece like fleece) is really the Galice Resort which is popular in summer for fishing and rafting, but mostly closed in winter. They run the only gas pump in the area and they literally have a sign that says "This is Galice." There are 2 or 3 dozen homes in the area around the resort, so it's not unpopulated, but there's not much traffic in November. Bear Camp turns off of Galice Rd. like 1/4 mile before you get to the resort, so Mr. Kim just needed to follow Bear Camp all the way down to Galice Rd. and he would have found someone.
The logging road that forked off of Bear Camp did have a gate. There was a story going around that some snowmobilers had cut the chain and opened the gate to go snowmobiling, but I can't remember if this was true or not. There are dozens of logging roads forking off of Bear Camp and they have gates to keep drivers from using them, but locals do like to use the old logging roads for snowmobiling, four wheeling, etc. and the forest service only goes out and checks the gates every so often, so it's entirely plausible the gate was left open by people who shouldn't have been there.
Law enforcement, search and rescue and volunteers were absolutely committed to finding the Kims. This was a young family that were lost in an unfamiliar area during a snow storm right in the middle of the holidays, so everyone wanted them to be found safe and returned home. I remember the Josephine County Sheriff at the time was absolutely gutted when he announced they had found Mr. Kim's body. I still feel bad for his wife and children and I hope they were eventually able to find peace.
Correction: Hwy 199 not 99.
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“James had never let her down” except for getting them stranded in the first place!
This is sad. But there is nobody to blame here other than james unfortunately. He took an unmarked road in a snowstorm, and continued driving even as it narrowed. One time i was driving through mountains as a snow storm hit. Immediately pulled an illegal uturn and got a hotel for the night. The next morning i took a roundabout way home that added hours to my drive. But i got home safe. Driving on an unmarked road in the wilderness is a choice he never should have made with two babies in the car. I'm sorry to be so harsh and may he rest in peace.
Always be the anti hero and turn back ...
I totally agree!
James’ dad should have thanked them instead of criticizing them. It was James who didn’t listen to the warnings from the hotel keeper. It was James who turned down a road when he didn’t 100% know it was the correct one. It was James who drove on, far too long in winter weather. He should have stopped far earlier, or listened to the warnings. He put his wife and children in grave danger.
father and son were both pos it seems smh
Such a sad, but totally preventable tragedy. These poor folks made too many bad decisions. Thank you for another very interesting and insightful video! This channel is Great!! Love it!!
I totally remember this incident. I live in Central Point. I've been on/worked on Bear Camp Road. Even now I become emotional when reminded of the tragedy. I was listening to the local news reports during the time the Kim family was missing and the mystery was current. One of the things that made it worse was, people the police, etc, thought they had been abducted, such as a carjacking. This thinking prevailed for days. It was not thought at the beginning they (or anybody) had taken or ever would have taken Bear Camp Road. All of us locals would never consider such a thing. To the city dwellers- "How could there be a road and it's not maintained?"
The problem was- they were using Yahoo Maps and the website did not warn that the road was closed and impassable in winter. Looking at the map, the road was fine. The Kims were city folk and this, along with no cellphone coverage never occurred to them, at least at the start. It was County Commissioner John Rachor who first figured out what had happened and where to search and he owned a helicopter. All respect to him. He found the car. Patrick Cowdrey, Central Point resident
Seriously as a city person we are so unaware or dont anticipate such situation
As someone who grew up near this area- 1) Half of WA and OR is a massive desert, its not all woods. And tourists not from here get killed every year. Its not like the rest of the US, its miles and miles of trackless wilderness.
Locals know dont take roads deep in the mountains named things like "gold creek" "bear camp" "canyon pass" or anything like that in winter. They arent roads, as such. More like dirt 4x4 paths thart dont get plowed and can have feet of snow on them. In winter, you stay to the freeways and large highways. Period.
I agree. If I saw a road named "bear camp" I would go another direction and look for a sign that had a route # like 199 or something.
Tragic. Brought a tear to my eye. Good timing, I'm about to go on a road trip and even though I have done my fair share of off roading and think this would never happen to me, but if it is an unfamiliar area, this could happen to anyone. Stay on the main roads will be on my mind. Thanks!
No this couldnt happen to anyone. He made some really really bad decisions
I'm Vietnamese, not Korean, not Chinese, it would never happen to me. Why? Cause Vietnamese are naturally adapted to the wilderness.
I’ve been on Bear Camp Road, it’s hairy enough during the spring, summer, and even the fall when I was on it at the time. But winter is more than scary, it’s deadly. Avoid roads such as this in winter.
Damn, I don't understand why they didn't turn the car at the fork in the road and go back the way they came. Even if they had to creep along during the daytime.
These people made so many terrible decisions it’s insane.
Right....also why did they wait like a week sitting in their car until they ran out of gas and then they were really screwed..like, obviously after a day or two the plows aren't coming...nobody is coming. Turn back and go the way you came. Ridiculous
@@stee8345they burned the tires.
@@TheMiaOrangethey didnt burn the tires until after they ran out of gas though. Burning the tires was an effort to stay warm after the car couldnt do it
They bravely drove to the middle of nowhere at night, then meekly sat there afraid to move in daylight, with what must have been a full tank of gas.
I agree, they should have made whatever progress they could and gone back the way they came. I mean, the guy managed to go in reverse at night to get back to the three way intersection, so why stop there when the Sun rose?
And why stay when the gas was almost gone? Sat tehre from Saturday night until Thursday before gas ran out!
Five days.
They would have been back to the main road if they had managed a mile every six hours.
How crazy to blame the searchers. This behavior was foolish. Know where you are. The danger signs mean YOU. When a local tells you it's dangerous to travel that road at night listen.
I understand his anger over losing his son but those people saved his daughter-in-law and his grand children. If his son has used commonsense no one would have needed saving.
@@tek87 People seem to think it is wrong to point out that these people made one incredibly bad decision after another.
After driving themselves into the middle of nowhere, they suddenly got cautious and decided the best thing to do was just sit there for a week until they had no gas, then no food, then no water, and then walk off the road to try to find help instead of just going back to the main road they had turned off of?
I am a bit surprised he did not just stay on the road when hiking out. I am also a bit surprised they keep this road open during the winter. In Vermont we close these type of roads down. They are left for snowmobiling not vehicles. A series of poor decisions were certainly made. As someone who hikes a lot his 20 miles in those conditions shows his determination to save his family. RIP
Right? Never wander off the main road when stranded!
Right? I would have walked back along the road. Well, I would have driven in my car very slowly back. Well, I wouldn't be in the situation in the first place. The most tragic thing is that this was preventable.
They suggested he went off the road because he was being followed/stalked by the bears and he was trying to get away…
The Kim family made a number errors that made this situation worse. If you get lost or miss a turn, turn around. It's that simple. Just follow the road back where you came. Don't try to find new routes to where your going in unfamiliar areas. Do not leave the car on throughout the night, you're just wasting gas. Do not leave the safety of your vehicle to wander off in unfamiliar territory, especially with bears in the area. Pay attention to signs in the area warning of dangers. The Kims never should have gone down such an obviously remote and sparsely traveled road. Stick to well-used roads so you will have help if needed. I understand the fathers frustration after losing his son but a little bit of commonsense could have prevented this tragedy.
I would think go back the way you came was common sense
I cannot understand how it is they were so brave late at night in the dark, but suddenly were too scared to move an inch when the Sun was up and they could see!
He managed to go in reverse back to the paved road, and got back to where they had turned off.
They had gotten to that point at night in the snow, UPHILL!
So all they needed to do was go back the way they had come about 20 miles during the day!
Instead they sat there day and night for almost a week until their gas ran out, instead of using the last gas to try to get somewhere?
And they had a map?
Sorry, this all makes no sense at all.
In these situations, what is obvious is, the people whom it happens to have no idea what kind of danger they are in, and keep making bad decisions over and over again.
Why would they decide to just sit there on a road with gas in the tank?
yeah, its kind of shitty that people tried to blame the rescuers. I've travelled many roads similar to this one in remote areas, and you do develop a 6th sense in decision making with experience. These guys obviously were not experienced. And probably the gps of that era were partly responsible, because as they said, it did not distinguish roads accurately, but people relied on them anyway. I've had a couple situations where I was lucky to get out of, but one thing i avoid is continuing on a road I know I can't backtrack, especially in snow. You don't have nearly the traction in reverse, regardless of awd, rwd, fwd, so as soon as you get to a point where you can't turn around, you better really be sure of where you are heading. I got lost in Idaho once, there was a landslide, and I made a similar turn off the main road as the detour would have added many hours to get to our destination. We ended up on a maze of fire/logging roads, and after a few hours gas was becoming an issue. We just happened to get lucky and ran into a hunter camping off the side of the road who gave us pretty crude directions to get out that hinged on one turn. We actually missed the turn, and something told me to backtrack and luckily I found it. The hunter had warned us it was steep, and it was steep to the point that we were sliding with the brakes locked in our 4x4. Had we missed that turn, we would have shortly run out of gas and been in a pretty bad situation. I still do quite a bit of solo exploring, hiking, biking and by vehicle, in areas with no cel, but I'm never expecting anyone to rescue me. I would never take risks like this with my family, that was a really stupid move, luckily they didn't pay the price. And its unfortunate he did, at least he had the balls to make an attempt at saving them, even if it cost him his life...
@@nickmcginley4570they didn’t decide to sit there- they got stuck in the snow and being from San Francisco didn’t have snow tires….
They didn’t know they were lost until it was too late- that’s the whole point
I love your intro, this dude's voice should be doing Hollywood trailers. Epic story telling voice, best I've ever heard. God rest the Kims' tragic tale.
Absolutely love this video. I had not heard of this story but, your coverage, as always, was fantastic, informative and respectful. Keep up the great work my friend, we love it!
RIP James Kim. You tried your hardest to protect your family, but it was a losing situation.
…he put them in that situation…
I rely on google maps for every trip. I try and plan and plan. I zoom in and guess what? I still come across dirt roads in National parks etc.. I once almost broke an axel getting out of the Allegheny forest but the map said it was a road. It was a LOGGING road. It was paved 5 miles in and then turned. I can understand completely how this happens.
James is a hero. Truly. It’s heartbreaking that he’s gone for his family. Such respect telling the story, OD. It’s tragic beyond the pale. 😔
Relying on google. How about invest in a proper GPS system?
We need to teach people NOT to just blindly following water. It can work but in areas like these, it leads downhill to deadly canyons. I feel sorry for Kim :(
I've started carrying the Garmin Mini InReach I use for backpacking and backcountry skiing with me on remote road trips, as well. Incidentally, we recently drove through the area in the video. It's steep and rough country! It would be super sketch in winter conditions even if you had full locking 4x4 and tire chains.
this story hurts so much. as asan francisco native. i feel we arr unprepared for extreme and unpredictable weather outside of our comfortable weather. it leads us to be very ill prepared and vulnerable. i also am horrified by how snow is so challenging to be in. this story is haunting.
Your voice is memorable ❤ exactly what I need after a long day.
Thank you very much for the kind words!
It sounds like a robot
I remember that incident so well! During those years I was driving back and forth from Central California to Seattle several times a year to visit family. I usually stopped in Grants Pass for the night. It’s a charming town at the halfway point on that route. That area in Northern California and Southern Oregon is very beautiful… but much of it is very desolate. I was hurting for the Kim family. My heart goes out to Kati and her girls. James was a loving father and husband, as evidenced by his heroic hike in search of help. I hope the three of you are doing well!
I know the area well too and drove that corridor many times. That area between I-5 and the coast is thick with foliage, but exceptionally beautiful. I had car problems in Grant Pass. Luckily it was an easy fix and was out by the end of the day. Always stop in that town. Thanks for watching!
So sad what happened to this family… I have always kept a survival kit in my car and change it during the winter to have blankets, kitty litter to use as traction if you get stuck, non perishable foods and I alway have extra water when I go anywhere, even if it’s a short trip to the doctor because one never knows if you’ll break down. I totally agree that it’s best to stay with your car. Thanks for sharing!
I've been watching your channel for several months. The tragedies involving families always hits hard. I've shared this video with friends and family in hopes they never end up with the same fate. Without you ever knowing it, you've probably saved some lives. Thank you for creating this channel.
I remember when this happened and I believe that was around the time a pretty severe storm hit Oregon, Washington and lower BC. The second they went on the forest service road, they were pretty much doomed. That's an incredibly rugged area. Hindsight being 20/20, they should have simply stayed the night in Grants Pass, where their only real obstacle then would be the mountain pass that I-5 takes to get into California.
I go on many roadtrips. It's far easier nowadays to research specific roads that are off the beaten path. But in the winter, stick to the main highways no matter what. Especially if a storm is brewing.
Why were they doomed?
All they had to do at any time was turn around and drive back the way they had come.
Been on this road. On the map I used it looked like the a straight shot from Grants Pass to the coast with no indication it was a winding dirt road. Didn't realize the main way through was to dip into CA and go around the area altogether. Luckily this was in May and the weather was good so it was just a case of taking the scenic route.
I’ve been west of that area that took place, crater lake area in the end of winter & it is rugged area. Towns are very thin, cell phone reception is thin & signs can be hard to see. I can’t imagine what it was like for them 15 yrs prior to my trip.
I've heard of Crater Lake. I think it's a very deep lake. Someone sent me a postcard of Crater Lake. I didn't know it was near where they were rescued.
Such a tragedy! The coast range of Oregon is so rugged and unpopulated this route would not be a great route in the middle of summer and is impassible and unnavigable in winter. The idea that a family with small children and no supplies or experience in winter travel or the local area is pretty unfathomable.
SIGN: "danger turn around. You will die". I'm befuddled why this was not taken seriously given this was not their neck of the woods. It's more valiant to save your family before you put yourself in a situation where you die
A survivor of the Donner Party tragedy later offered advice to future pioneers: "Don't take no cut-offs and hurry along as fast as you can." This advice is still valuable today. My sympathy for this family. RIP James Kim.
Let me start by saying if you are not subscribed to this channel you need your head examined because Outdoor Disasters is far and away the best of this type on CZcams! The survival tips they provide with every story may save your life one day if you are an adventurer! Very sad story about the Kim family and I was hoping for a better outcome! Mr. Kim did what most any father would do in this situation and tragically it cost him his life! He left a wife and two children that he dearly loved trying desperately to save their lives. I hope and pray that the family is doing well now and that Mr. Kim rests in peace
Thank you very much for you support! Well said.
@@outdoordisasters thank-you for the outstanding stories
Maybe people aren't subscribed because they have other interests than you? What a surprise.
@@CMV314 true and the ones with different interests should never see my comment! Only people who enjoy these stories of survival should ever be here! Like you or do you just look through comments trying to find people to mess with?
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Thank you Outdoor Disasters. You are absolutely the best in telling these stories. Thank you for always sharing such good advice. What a tragic ending. RIP James Kim.🌹❤ I'm so sorry to his surviving loved ones.
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When a video starts with “For all its beauty and splendor the wilderness can be a cruel teacher” you know its gonna be good. 😄
It's almost unbelievable,the number of errors that were made. Every time they had a choice about what to do, they made the wrong one. DG
Bro... Drive tf outta there!! U just drive to the middle of nowhere and park it? I gotta be missing something.
Why is it that every time I hear your voice I get a strong urge to go outside?! Thank you for the great content.
Haha I feel the same
Me too. Wow.
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I'm so impressed by how quickly you put this together, given its high quality. All aspects are excellent, including your fair-minded conclusions and helpful recommendations.
I remember something that was remarked at the time by (I think) a local official. He said that people usually think of Oregon in terms of lighthouses and Tillamook cheese, and are surprised to learn how rugged its wilderness is.
Thanks so much!
I’m a former distance runner, and Oregon makes me think of Steve Prefontaine. ...and green, vast forested land. I hope to visit someday.
I am from a big city in the East, and when I think of Oregon, I think of vast forests that are virtually uninhabited, incredibly remote, and with huge mountains and long distances and few roads.
And that is what I saw when I visited there.
No one that has any idea what they are doing drives off a main road onto a remote back road in the middle of the night, to drove over a mountain in snow in the middle of Winter, with not even so much as a heavy jacket in the car.
And with kids in the car?
Then just keep going as conditions get worse and worse?
A tragic fate. One that happens unfortunately all too often to city slickers who are unaware of the power of nature
I've heard this story before, but not with this amount of detail- I wanted to listen again because it was you telling it. Very tragic and can't imagine how scary for the Kim's. Thank you also for the tips you always give at the end.
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It reminds me of the story I heard where the guy tries to hike out several times ending with a decision to use the floor mats as boots. Don't think he survived.
luv your format. esp the final survival tips and lessons.
Such a tasteful and thorough take on this tragedy. Thank you so much for the work you do in scripting and researching theses videos. You acknowledge the human error and show the efforts made by the unfortunate victims. While I do agree with so many other commenters pointing out the obvious errors made I appreciate you taking such a balanced approach when sharing theses stories . You content is consistently respectful to all parties involved.
Thank you so much for your time and keep up the great work!
Thank you very much for your kind words. Definitely is what I'm aiming for.
So sad for Mr. Kim. I was/am used to Portland, OR for 18 plus yrs. I learned when getting ready to camp somewhere, not to pay attention to the GPS 8n some places and not to go down logging roads, as directed on the campground's website. Some of the gates to logging roads open to let you in but not back out. Some of the roads near Crater Lake close in the winter. I am still not familiar with the majority of wilderness in Oregon. The terrain changes so much. Some adventures driving back and forth across the US in the 90s I'm lucky we survived the being stranded multiple times, even flash floods.
I remember this story, I had v young kids then too. The father was commended by rescuers for giving his best. I hope the mom and girls are thriving. It was brave of her to return to that site. Talk about ptsd. Honestly, if there’s a road it’s easy to think civilization is nearby. But this can happen anywhere. My friend in AZ told me even driving in west coast you can encounter sudden snow etc she said you have to be careful. I am glad to see resources are being used ti make improvements. We rely on counties and govt to at least remove certain hazards, like blocking the road.
I’m so grateful the mom and two children survived and how devastating the story is that James died trying to get help…. And only a mile from a shelter… so tragic. Seeing that bear must have been absolutely terrifying- and then the fact that James got out and went off knowing he was leaving his family surrounded by bears and she knew he was out there with the bears- truly unbelievable heroism on both their parts…. I don’t think talking about what they did wrong is of any value- they know they made mistakes- and he died because of it and she will live with guilt forever…
Subscribed. Having just found this channel and watched a few of your stories, I see that quite a few of them have already been covered by other channels, some of which I've seen.
However, I particularly appreciate how you emphasise the importance of preparation, planning, and the advice you give on survival. The elements versus humankind is not to be taken lightly, and it's vital to acknowledge the possible dangers and likelihood of nature being the winner in most cases.
We are only mere guests on this planet and, unless we show the deserved respect towards it, it will sure as hell not show any respect towards us. Look after your home, and it will look after you.
They shouldve went back the way they came in
I live in Cumbria, England, we have little mountains but not big ones, not so much wilderness. I have two days food supply in my car plus 2L of soft drink (water would freeze), travel blanket, picnic rug, emergency blanket, yellow weatherproof jacket. In winter I add a sleeping bag.
One of the biggest tragedies was thinking Seattle would be a good place to live.
In 2006 it was. Seattle started going downhill insanely fast starting in the early 2010s until it became the Black Lives Matter insurrection of 2020 and the hellhole it is now.
I think the most crucial mistake was that they parked their car on the forked road point. And waited whole day and following night. They could have driven back to Galice. That part I am not clear.
This story infuriates me. This is a perfect example of why city folk need to just stay out of the mountains. This guy got paid to play with electronics in the big city. NOT to go galavanting through the mountains in the snow! This is arrogance. I've seen it hundreds of times. City people tend to think they are smarter than their rural counterparts and that is false. Ya have different skill sets. This was a disaster so easily avoided! The lodge even told him TO NOT DO IT! It's a very frustrating story to listen to...
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I am good with both but I am Vietnamese, so not surprising. Koreans and Chinese do not have the same survival sense that us Vietnamese possess, from 4000 years of survival.
Tragic. People play with fate and the price to pay may be too high.
This channel has served its purpose of alerting people. Not only will i not go outdoors in unfavourable seasons and temperatures but when I do go will go more prepared and informed. Thank you. Having lived in city all life the nature part and associated risk isnt much known. 😢😢 I think as we get busier in our lives our instincts and critical thinking will take a hit 😢
That's awesome. People must humble themselves and understand when they have limited experience and knowledge to know these limitations and proceed with caution. Great comment!
Excellent video. I know mostly what happened. But your video provides more details that picture the whole story. RIP James. Loving husband and father. The decision to go from I-5 to the Oregon coast at night was a bad bad decision. Why not get a motel somewhere along I-5?
It is hard to understand why they sat there with gas in the tank for day after day until they ran out of gas, rather than make their way back the way they had come.
They made the right call to stay put until daylight, but once the Sun was up, why did they think they could not make it up a road in daytime, that they had made it through in the middle of the night when they could not see and were exhausted?
And why and how did the guy wind up in a canyon creek when he started out on a paved road?
And what about the lady at the lodge?
Did she hear they were missing?
Did she call anyone when they did not show up?
Did she call when she heard they were missing and report what she knew about where they were and where they were heading?
I have missed turns before.
What you do is, go back, or change your plans.
Who tries to go over a mountain in the middle of the night in a snowstorm, instead of just staying in a motel on the main highway?
First point is good
Just one bad move after another.
PNW local. I'm surrounded by 3 national forests.
This was a terrible one but the father went out a hero for his footprints were needed to find the family.
Poor man tried to save his family. So sad he was lost like this.
Stupid man almost got his whole family killed.
Call it like it is.
@@nickmcginley4570 chill out dude
🙏🙏❤️
I have no idea why people take unnecessary chances in inclement weather especially when they're in unfamiliar terrain. Be safe, be smart, and live.
It appears they didn't have inclement weather until going up higher while going over the pass. No snow etc on the main road at a lower altitude. They thought they'd go up and over to their destination.
It's like a third video about an American family with small kids travelling by car to god knows where and dying in process and the only thing I can think about is - don't they have planes in the US? Trains? I live in a huge country comparable to the US, but no one would even THINK about such a long road trip in a car through a remote area on a small road with no other drivers or any services, and with no cell service, and with small kids in tow. If you need to travel so far away with KIDS - you just buy a plane/train ticket. There is always a possibility that your car breaks down and gets stuck somewhere far from the civilization, right? So, what was their plan for such a case? Also, why wait 3 days wasting gas if your car is in working condition? They had a working car and decided to use it as a shelter instead of driving back? What about the lady they spoke to over the phone? She DID know there is a family planning to come to the Lodge today. This family calls you and informs you they are alone on a road you consider very dangerous and you try to talk them out of it but they decide to drive anyway. Then this family doesn't come. Not today. Not tomorrow. And you go "Ah, they are fine, I'm not going to inform the police"?
In the US, car manufacturers and car dealerships fund and control politicians’ careers at both local and federal levels, and thats who they actually work for(amongst other corporate interests). Our train system has been purposely dismantled since the 1960’s to force us to buy cars. Also, the only train company that exists is a government sanctioned monopoly, so they raise prices constantly, with no extended routes or significant train refurbishment to show for it. Government sanctioned monopolies were supposed to be highly regulated, but regulations around them were destroyed by Regan first, then other Republicans, not that the Democrats ever fix anything the GOP breaks. Both parties suck, we have no good options.
Yep, I wondered why the lodge owner did not report them not arriving 😒
I've ever lived in a really cold environment- I from Alabama, but I have friends who are into survival who do live in cold climates and they continually stress about not letting yourself sweat. From what I understand it dampens your base layer which makes it ineffective at retaining your core temp. I sweat a lot- a take medication that makes me sweat more than normal, but I never noticed it soaking my clothing to the point I thought it would affect its ability to keep me warm. But these guys say even sweating just a little is bad- that it really causes issues. I have to take their word for it- Iam very susceptible to hypothermia. I don't know why some ppl seem to be more susceptible to it, but some do- and I'm one of them. I got caught out riding horses once in the rain- on a late fall evening- with only a long sleeve button up shirt and jeans on- no jacket or anything. By the time I could ride back to the barn- which was several miles away- my lips were blue, and I couldn't stop shaking, my teeth were chattering so hard I thought they would break. I was totally soaked for the whole ride home- and it was down in the mid 50s- which i didn't think was cold enough to matter- but I was wrong. I was on the verge of hypothermia- wouldn't have taken but a couple more miles and I would've been in real trouble.
The results would not have changed at all. A wrong turn, leaving the car, and bad luck are a theme of these family disaster videos. So scary. Just rest in a motel for the night. It is ok to take a little longer to get to your destination.
I've seen their documentary before but I'm certain Outdoors will do it justice. I just can't watch it again...too sad for me.
But there was a sign on the road, wasn’t there? Did I misunderstand that? Sadly a typical example of people taking foolish risks and paying a terrible price.
Stubbornness and inability to admit defeat can be a killer
It's one thing to make these poor decisions when it's just yourself but they had 2 children to protect. Very shocking.
We drove this road late in the evening of Sep 21, 2011. It was a scary drive with sharp turns and often gravel. As it was dark I didn't see the drops and my wife knowing about my morbid fear of heights, didn't tell me what she saw, until we ended up in Grants Pass.
It felt very uncomfortable, alone on that road and with the fuel gauge showing a need to fill up the tank very soon.
But we made it, filled the tank at the first gas station we saw and was told about the bear hunt had just started ...
My partner, myself, and my 6 year old daughter were in this area about a year before this happened. We could have made the same mistake. We were heading south on I5 heading down to Disneyland and just south of Grants Pass it started to snow. Soon it was heavy and chains were required. We decided to head west to take the 101 down the coast instead. I looked at the map for a road to take us to the beach and I saw this road on the map. I looked at the map legend and there was a line along the road and the note attached said it was not to be used in the winter. Even though it took us a hour longer we backtracked north to a bigger road and took it to the beach. The next year this happened and I was so shaken at how close we could have been in the same situation. Sometimes a good old map is the way to go vs GPS. If that map legend had not had the warning we probably would have taken the road.
I remember living in Washington and seeing this story on the news . Its interesting seeing the full story.
eleven burger kings?? wow
There's only two types of people. Those who love nature and the thrill that comes with its challenges, and those who believe an Utopia is a world where it's impossible to even get a papercut, and want laws placed to achieve this misled pipe dream. I wonder who will win.
Oh I remember this.....everytime I go on a road trip I think of this poor family. Such a heartbreaking story. James tried so hard....broke my heart....
This family made a series of incredibly stupid decisions. I can't even fathom it.
this young father . rest in peace. he did all he could. my mother had this well to do couple as their customer in noe valley. rest in peace.
All he could?
That is not how it seems to me.
Seems to me he made every awful mistake a man can make.
Last mistake was leaving a paved road in the wilderness when his family was depending on him.
Sometimes I get lost in parking lot and airport.
I remember the case. So tragic. 😢
Common this is about stupidity, who in there right mind would ever leave a major highway with a family in the mountains in winter in an unfamiliar area...common man
Yes
Never go down a road you are unsure of where it goes! Especially in winter weather.
I would, but then again I drive a specialize off-road truck with more than a month worth of water and food and all the survival gear and equipment you can imagine.
@@chrisx5127May luck ever be on your side!
I remember this story when it happened as I was living in OR at the time. Very heartbreaking.
Had it occurred to anyone that they had not been abducted but had tried to navigate Bear Camp Road, the search would have begun DAYS EARLIER. I'm still so sad. =PC=
So STUPID TO THINK THAT AND NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE. The evidence was that they were driving. Imagine anything: ? Sold the car / swam home. Crazy
This story reminds me so much of the Death Valley Germans. One wrong turn can have tragic consequences.
At 3:57, the narrator said a travelling salesman starved to death after getting stuck. A person can survive without food for weeks, or even 2/3 months! How long was this guy stranded for?
Thank you Lord for saving this mom and her children & for James Kim’s strength and courage throughout his final days.🙏
The father looked to blame everyone _except_ his son. His son, unfortunately, had zero common sense, knowledge, or experience.
December is no time to press things. Listen to the locals.
Seemed like James had to stay at a nice costal resort instead of an off highway motel. Tragic mistake.
I think panic lead them down a slippery slope of getting more lost; it was also bad luck.
Imagine the arguments on that ride
Damn, seems he almost or did make it to the bigger road, but then got lost again an went all the way down into that canyon
Why did he leave? That was such a bad move. Rest in peace
so sad and brave
That's just to bad,the father did his best to save his family
13:19 I don’t know where you got this info from but Katie and the kids never left the car to try and walk … they stayed in the car the entire time….. that’s a completely made up inaccurate statement from someone- Katie never stated at any time she decided to leave the car with the kids because of the bears…
Why would anyone think that taking remote backwoods roads in the winter is a good idea - especially after being warned multiple times by the owner of the lodge where they wanted to stay? Who would risk the lives of their wife and small children for a little backroads adventure?? If Kim was so intent on staying at that lodge in Gold Beach, they could have cut west from Eugene on highway 126 and gotten on highway 101 for a straight shot south along the coast. These are both well-traveled, major routes that would have been far safer, even in the worst winter weather. The price for ignorance and stupid ideas of "adventure" ended up being way too high. This tragedy could so easily have been avoided.
James was a very foolish goal orentated man. Some times you need to admit you are wrong and retrace your steps to safety.
100% agree. Putting blame on roads and search efforts is just wrong here.
Did you not pay attention the video or..? They couldn’t turn around. It’s a single lane with dense forest on either side coming right up to the edge of the road. You can look where they were on google street view. That was how they ended up so far- James was trying to find somewhere to turn around but there simply wasn’t room. That’s also why he drove in reverse for a large portion of the way when they realized there was no room to turn around. The additional mitigating factors were the snow storm and the fact that they weren’t from the area.
James also made a herculean effort to get help when he trekked on foot. He wasn’t dressed for the weather or the environment but he made it incredibly far. The pro search and rescue team said that they teared up when they followed his tracks and found his body because they almost couldn’t believe the distance and conditions that he traversed in light clothing and no food or water. He did end up saving his family as they wouldn’t have found them if James didn’t leave tracks back to the stranded car. It’s an incredibly tragic story.
Mr. Ballen has a good on this incident and it goes into a lot more detail as to what happened.
CORSAR is an excellent idea. May James rest in peace. ⚘️
Bears in the winter ?? It was sasquatch lol
Yes, a tragedy. A bit of a theoretician? On paper , literally, I suppose the plan looked good. Take this road and or that road to get to this destination. But in December, there would be snow , the cold , ice, and the map wouldn't show how narrow the roads are. A city person I suppose . Of course , for someone from the area , it would be common sense not to take that route. In the days of paper maps, people had to figure out a route. And it was not easy . Maps showed a theoretical world. The real world is very different.
How about doing a video on drowned tourists in the Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona? I think it was a flash flood that swept them away and they were drowned. 11 died, mostly Europeans.
Wow never heard of this. Just skimming over the story, this definitely has potential. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
@@outdoordisasters it occurred in the 90s I think. 11 died. Tragic. I went there to take pictures a few times.
I believe there was an even more recent tragedy up there too
Poor guy missed 2 different turn offs? Did he not have google maps or Mapquest?
This was before smartphones, we take them for granted today, but not so long ago, navigating was a whole different business. That said, the father made a big number of mistakes.
these guys had a running car and decided not to drive to safety
12:46 James didn’t just decide to leave the road- the authorities stated when they found him that he had been being stalked by a bear which is why he left the road ….
I never found that piece of info. Very interesting. Now it makes more sense why he would leave the road.
True ? Not mentioned by anyone else
Were there bear tracks following him?