[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Well, "stupidity" is way too harsh a judgment for Kim's actions. Having lived in the mountains for many years while growing up, I can tell you that these types of mistakes are very easy to make, especially when it is dark, the weather is miserable, and visibility nil. Simply turning around on some of these narrow wilderness roads is not an option sometimes, especially if you are not used to driving on them.

My guess is that after accidentally getting onto the logging road, Mr. Kim quietly panicked, and really did not know what to do, other than simply plowing forward and trying to follow his map, which by this point was no longer valid to his situation, unbeknownst to him. It could happen to anyone, particularly those who are unfamiliar with local roads such as this logging road.

Maps like he was probably following are notoriously misleading too when it comes to secondary roads, as I've personally discovered during my own wilderness trips. So I can completely sympathize with the Kims' plight.

With that said, it looks to me that there was plenty of incompetence up and down the local authorities command chain, beginning with "car sick" Rubrecht and her indifferent football fan boss, who together bear a large portion of the blame for their poor rescue efforts.

[tkathy]

You are right. I apologize. My concern was blaming and second guessing the authorities in a hysterical way.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

And I forgto to add that BLM's failure to secure the chain/gate across the logging road was simply criminal...

[surfer]

words of wisdom...right on!

[poseiden]

Resue efforts are only efforts. The rescue efforter has no responsibiltiy to expect to be successful. The have a right to say "I won't do that if it endangers there own life or physical or mental well being".