Lock was cut on gate barring road (VANDALS CUT LOCK ON GATE - JAMES KIM STORY)

MSNBC / The Associated Press ^ | 12/8/06 | Not Listed

[paulat]

Lock was cut on gate barring road San Francisco man died close to feed, shelter in wilderness, officials say The Associated Press Updated: 3:25 p.m. PT Dec 8, 2006 CENTRAL POINT, Ore. - A San Francisco man who got stranded with his family in the snowy wilderness had taken a wrong turn in the car down a logging road that is normally blocked by a gate, but vandals had cut the lock, authorities said Friday.

James Kim, 35, was found dead of exposure in a mountain creek Wednesday, two days after his wife and the couple's two daughters were rescued from the car.

The gate had been locked for the winter Nov. 1, after the end of deer hunting season, so that "people don't mistakenly go down that road," said Patty Burel, spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Land Management.

Searchers looking for the family found the gate open, Burel said. An investigation is under way to find out who cut the lock.

The one-lane strip of pavement known as Bear Camp Road is often used in summer by Rogue River rafters and in winter by hunters, cross-country skiers and families cutting Christmas trees.

[snip]

[paulat]

Like throwing a lighted cig out of a car window...you don't know whose lives you will effect....

[paulat]

effect = affect

[PeterFinn]

Then I guess they can't blame this on the internet mapping services. Tell the lawyers to go home now.

[GinaLolaB]

I dislike Vandals very much. They wreck everything. They wreck their own bus stops and pay phones. It does not make sense at all.

[paulat]

Then I guess they can't blame this on the internet mapping services. Tell the lawyers to go home now.

He worked for CNET...I also work in tech. If I am going somewhere, I print out a map from the biggest map services.

I think this will have a lot of map services putting a disclaimer on their output.

[rogue yam]

There seems to be a huge MSM effort to absolve this "hero" dad. My opinion is that he made a number of boneheaded mistakes that endangered his family and cost him his life. He is a classic case of a guy who didn't want to cut his losses (i.e. turn back) and instead wanted to improvise some elegant solution in a context of extreme uncertainty. Such behavior is not heroic whan one is responsible for two tiny children.

[paulat]

Such behavior is not heroic whan one is responsible for two tiny children.

Please don't go there. Many of us spent days on a thread that looked at all angles. You just came here and spouted. Please look up the previous threads.

Also..."heroism" is not necessarily being "right."

Heroism is doing what you think is best.

The firefighters going UP the stairs in the WTC did not do the "right" thing. They did what they thought was "best."

[BunnySlippers]

I really have to wonder why that area was not searched the first day given that they knew the family was roughly in that area.

[BallyBill]

The "vandals" were probably off road drivers or some other outdoor enthusiasts. I've been to many parks and trails where people think since they are taxpayers they have the right to go anywhere.

I'll bet they rarely think they could hurt anyone other than themselves. Like people that swim in off limits quarries and are drowned or injured and a rescue crew arrives and loses one of their own trying to save the law breakers life.

Whole story is just so sad.

[paulat]

I really have to wonder why that area was not searched the first day given that they knew the family was roughly in that area.

Nobody is reported as a "missing person" after one day. By the time people started to worry (4 or 5 days), the search was underway. Apparently, they didn't make it a big deal to "check-in" with family. I know when I travel, I certaintly have never done that. It was only after a couple of days that it started to get noticed.

[pandoraou812]

When you are traveling somewhere you aren't familiar with it is a good idea to have maps, food, water, extra clothes and blankets and to have flares. If nothing else a cd or a mirror can be used to flash for help. It is also a good idea to keep in touch with your family or friends and give them an idea of where you are at least once a day. My husband always laughed at me for calling the older sons to say goodnight and see if they were partying. Now he knows I am right to call and check in.

[Doohickey]

You do? I bring a GPS with topo maps whenever I travel in unfamiliar areas.

[Dinsdale]

Could be a cattle-man rounding up strays.

We off-roaders usually break a new trail around the gate. Not wanting to cut someones lock and setting the detour as a barricade to the 'mall utility vehicles'.

And cause we like to break new trail.

In any case he should have known something was wrong when branches started scratching his paint and turned around.

Anybody know what he was driving?

[paulat]

Please...please stop. You obviously have not read the thousands (THOUSANDS!!) of posts that have been on FR since this started. Please read other posts before you put out twaddle.

Thanks!

[Fresh Wind]

I heard Subaru, not sure what model.

[DariusBane]

wow...

[pandoraou812]

EXcuseeeeeeeeeeeeee me Paulet for my twaddle. Its actually common sense and good advice. And I did read the posts all day. You commented this...Apparently, they didn't make it a big deal to "check-in" with family. I know when I travel, I certaintly have never done that. Well Paulet it seems to me thats twadddle and stupid not to call home. Have a nice night and thanks!!!

[Tarpon]

I heard it was a Volvo soft-roader, like an Subaru Outback. It clearly wasn't set up for mountain winter driving, no chains not enough ground clearance. That's the problem with buying cars from watching TV commercials. They look so cool driving up those rough roads, until the slightest problem. My 4x4 F-350 would have been fine for those logging roads.

From the looks of the overheads I saw, a proper vehicle would have been able to negotiate the roads with or without snow. Proper supplies would have likely saved all their lives. Been there done that, don't leave home without proper equipment and clothing. No one said the vehicle was damaged, just stuck in the snow in the middle of the road.

[RainMan]

What a crappy definition of "hero".

A hero is someone who lives a life dedicated to preserving the lives of others ... PERIOD. He put them into the situation, therefore, regardless of what he did after he screwed up, he is not the hero.

Pick the brave people who put thier own lives on the line, suffering cold, fatigue, and elements to find this bonehead, and call THEM heros, and I will be 100% behind you, but James Kim will never, ever, be a hero in my book. And yes, I posted on the other threads too.