Somebody help me out here: did Mr. Kim try to follow the road back out and lost his way, or did he try to hike cross-country?
He started back out the road, but eventually left it and followed a stream downhill.
From what I have pieced together. James Kim and his wife made a plan. James was going to follow the road back out and look for Rogue River - he knew if he followed Rogue river he would run into a town. They had estimated it to be about 4.5 miles away.
So it might be assumed that James saw the creek area and thought either it was Rogue River or was going to lead to it. An old survival tatic used to be to follow rivers because they ultimately alway led to a town. There are many theories on this now.