I posted this earlier...but if you look at this site...you will really get the idea of what happened and even why he decided to leave the road...amazing what you can do with google earth.
http://www.layoutscene.com/james-kim-path/index.html
Look at each page and about to amazed to see what he faced and where he went...
I pointed out previously that taking the Big Windy to the Rogue, and then following the Rogue is about 10 miles. The total walk back on the road would've been more'n twice that (not to mention elevation changes). Even so there's a net decent along the road, he'd still have to deal with those interminable climbs on occassion. And hiking a decent is just as much a workout as hiking a climb. The steeper the decent, the more strenuous the workout: one is exerting effort in the braking.
There are specific guidelines with respect to hiking progress based on grade. I know what those mountain streams are like, the terrain in them, and I'd be deathly afraid of getting wet. Ever read To Build a Fire by Jack London? I almost puked the first time I read that story. I have a similar nauseous feeling in my gut right now.
Given what he did down the ravine, I'm convinced he had it in him to walk back NF-23 all the way (even if it took 25 miles), but it had to have been better going than what he went through.
I hope that in his 35 short years on this planet, that he found the time to realize his need for, come to know, and accept Christ as his personal saviour. Because if so then he's presently in a much better place than any of us can even dream of.
That is an amazing and heartbreaking set of images. So close. I was seeing if I could reply to the person who created the site. It would be interesting to see if he had made it to the large river if he would have been able to see the camp upstream (at least it seems to be upstream). And if not - he probably would have turned right and gone downstream away from the camp anyway.
It sure shows what a good map can do.