CNET Editor's body found by Searchers (Update #941)

CNET TV ^ | 12-04-06 | From CNET TV

[sockmonkey]

Wife and two daughters of senior editor James Kim found in Oregon; search is still on for James Kim, who left the car on foot two days ago.

The wife and daughters of missing CNET senior editor James Kim have been found alive and airlifted to a local hospital, authorities announced at a press conference in Merlin, Ore., Monday afternoon.

James Kim left the car on snowshoes two days ago to seek help and has not been found, the official said. The search for him continues.

According to the official speaking at the news conference, the conditions of Kati, Penelope and Sabine are not yet known. More details are expected at a press conference at 5 p.m. PST, which CNET will stream live.

Kati Kim reportedly flagged down a helicopter rented by families of the missing persons.

After searches in Oregon's Curry and Douglas counties, new information on missing CNET senior editor James Kim and his family narrowed the search back to the Bear Camp area in Josephine County, according to reports Monday.

A cell phone tower received a signal from one of the family's cell phones at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday near Glendale, but officials say the signal is only an indicator the family could have been within 26 miles of Glendale at that time, according to a report in The Oregonian.

[From many - one.]

Orange paint. Preferably a spray can.

[null and void]

That would be easy..... until I ran out of cigarettes..

OK, find the nearest 7-11, stock up and RETURN TO THE CAR!

[pabianice]

[OregonRancher]

I live, own, and operate a ranch near this area. One: You don't drive over that road in the winter unless you are absolutely positive the road is cleared and inclement weather is not imminent. The snow can come very quickly and can make driving impossible in less than an hour. And if you're all the way to Eden Valley, you won't be able to walk out.

The road is paved, narrow, no guard rails, road markings, and at night, dark as the back side of the moon. Maps all show it for a nice ride. Maps are flat, this road changes elevation seveal times in thousands of feet. And last, no cell towers. Its 85 miles of desolate, towering forest, no lights, habitations, nothing and in the winter, will kill you quick...

[Phsstpok]

Friends and family did know where they were going (Gold Beach) and when they were supposed to arrive (including calls to the hotel to tell them they'd be late). They did NOT know what route they were taking, however. There are several from the last place there were spotted and their destination and, off of those, several small roads they could have strayed onto by mistake in bad weather. I'm betting that's what happened.

[steve86]

The other thing I learned as a pilot is TURN AROUND when the weather deteriorates. Applies on the ground in many situations as well.

[Doohickey]

Excellent news so far. Thanks for a very worthy tech ping.

[Dead Dog]

I hear yah. And that is why this happens so often. They can't depend on you once you are hypothermic. The time to take action is before you head off to the mountains. Pack food, water, blankets/sleeping bags and be ready to stick it out for a week.

It's also a good idea to let people know where you are going and when you'll get back.

[fish hawk]

How about GPS and more than one cell phone?? How about a guide?? What about Disney Land??

[blowfish]

>In bad weather in remote areas, DON'T LEAVE THE CAR!
>(Exception made for liberals.)

As a "proudpapa", I hope you are teaching your children to be more charitable than you apparently are.

[Zeon Cowboy]

How frightening... I will be praying for Mr. Kim.

[BunnySlippers]

Good advise, Bear Wash.

[Phsstpok]

Do we know which road they were found on/near? So far I haven't seen that specified. The last speculation I saw was that they might have taken 42 from Roseburg.

[TET1968]

"That's certainly good advice for normal circumstances but conditions where they were are much more extreme and suited more to a winter expedition special forces unit or similar."

A Tenth Mountain Trunk Monkey. Is there such a thing?

[VOA]

I guess you also have to make a judgement call about your situation.

While the "stick with the car" is probably good advice most of
the time, I've read/heard of some cases where that was the ticket
for death. Whether fairly quickly due to injuries/weaknesses of
some of the party...or a slow death by deprivation or exposure.

While they show the truly extreme cases, the "I Shouldn't Be
Alive" series shows plenty of times when if someone hadn't hoofed
it for help, the whole party probably would have perished.
(and, on balance, some cases where the person going for help
was just d-mned lucky to be found after the main party is discovered
"back at the car")

But boy, oh boy...making that judgement call as to "sticking
together" or "going for help" is a tough mutha'!

[ansel12]

"That's certainly good advice for normal circumstances but conditions where they were are much more extreme and suited more to a winter expedition special forces unit or similar."



I live in San Diego, every year or two, there is an event that keeps people stuck on the freeway for hours, so I keep enough water for me and to help mothers in other vehicles that have thirsty children.

In case of a terrorist event that locks up the roads to the point where the vehicles have to be abandoned, I keep a go bag, so that I can hike up to thirty miles to my home if I have to, since we are in a desert climate (inland county) I keep a Sunblock Gustbuster umbrella to use during a summer hike, and a reflective tarp to put over the car, if I have to stay with it for a hot afternoon.

The storage bag that people keep their gear in, in their vehicles should always be a large backpack or a large bag with shoulder, carrying straps.

If you have to leave the vehicle, you want to be able to comfortably carry your stuff with you, or if have to go for gas, it is easier to carry the gas can in a backpack than in your hand.

[steve86]

I thought they were navigating by GPS but that might have been someone's speculation. At any rate standard GPS highway mapping data would be inadequate in those rural areas and could lead to the wrong turn as you pointed out. It is hard enough to navigate forest roads in the summertime without taking the wrong side of a wye or a stub road, etc.

[Rushmore Rocks]

Many, many years ago, Mr. RR, the three children and I went to cut a Christmas tree just a few mile east of Laramie, Wyo. One of those weird, sudden blizzards came in and we were stuck off road for eight hours, the longest eight hours of my life. (Never go to cut a Christmas tree in a Volkswagon Beetle) I had packed "survival gear", so we were okay (just very cold) until the Forest Service Rangers found us. I think it helped that Mr. RR was a Forest Service Ranger at the time and we were a "priority". Actually, with the Forest Service, EVERYONE is a priority. We never left the vehicle.............except for potty breaks.

Message to all.............DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR!

[US_MilitaryRules]

UHHH, DUHHH.. Let the air out first!

[steve86]

Good information from a local. About what I expected, although I wouldn't have expected it to be paved.