[barker]

Was so hoping he would be found alive. Very sad ending. Prayers for his family.

[kenth]

This is sad. This is the first update I've seen since the original story. Prayers for his young family, and prayers for him.

We were really hoping he made it. We never go anywhere unprepared, especially in adverse weather, even just the few miles to the store. Just sad. Wasn't there another young family missing during the same snowstorm, in the same area too?

From this story, I know some will wonder what if they had expanded the search he might have been found. Conditions like those and it's fortunate that he was found at all. Sometimes, they're never found, especially if they lose direction and head into more remote terrain.

[claudiustg]

---Turnbull said it was important to "set the public record straight" and "to emphasize the efforts Mr. Kim made to rescue his family."---

What's up with all the effort to say Kim did nothing wrong? He left the road without knowing where he was going and it proved fatal.

[Bernard Marx]

I've been following this story from the beginning and have yet to hear why they got off the I-5 to begin with, especially in snowy weather. I saw one story that said they were supposed to stay in Gold Beach the first night. Were they trying to take a shortcut over the mountains instead of taking route 42 and following the coast?

[jonrick46]

One summer we drove south down Oregon Highway 97 from the Redmond area. We wanted to travel to the Arnold Ice Caves. We traveled past this sign that said, "Ice Caves Next Left." We turned down this gravel road and followed it for a rocky, dusty bouncy ten miles until it came to an abrupt end. My wife was fit to be tied. We stopped looking for those stupid ice caves. Instead we went to the High Desert Museum. I found this post on a web site called RoadsideAmerica.com. It illustrates the hassle one has finding their way around Oregon:

"The state or county or whoever has removed all the signs and identifying mile markers, etc., so that it is next to impossible to find any of the caves around Bend. Unless you've been there before and remember where they were, don't bother. You won't be able to find them.

Here is an on line version of how to get to these caves:

"Various locations south of Bend . . Besides Lava River Cove (see #27), there are many lava tubes southeast of Bend. These are generally well-marked and a great place to explore with some preparation Go south of Bend on Highway 97 to China Hat Road (Road # 18); turn east and travel about 8 miles on mostly gravel roads. Rood #1820 goes to Arnold Ice Cave. Also marked with signs are Boyd Cove and Wind Cave. A detailed map of the area is advisable. Check road conditions.

Ugh. Okaaaay! Rood #1820? Gravel Road? That's right! Or is it a left?

[Rte66]

Here are some other threads where we've been discussing this story at length and swapping snow survival tips:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1751267/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1749424/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1748417/posts