Letters to the Editor
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the Kims
A couple things about Mr. Kim's comments:
First, had there been aviation restrictions imposed, the Burger King mogul who discovered the Kim's car might not have ever flown over the site.
My only problem with the search was that it seemed to take searchers a long time to realize Bear Camp Road was a likely place. As a former Oregonian, I thought of that road immediately as soon as word got out the Kims were trying to get from I-5 to the coast. But if is true the Kims were 21 miles up a spur road off Bear Camp Road, it seems likely the Kims would have been missed in the first few flights over that area.
James Kim made multiple mistakes the night he got lost. Why the Kims wanted to check into Tu-Tu-Tun Lodge after 1 AM with two small children is the one thing I will never understand.
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It's chilly in here
You know, it's one thing to be angered and annoyed by Spencer Kim's editorial, and quite another to express it by heaping coldblooded meanness upon his deceased son. The name-calling and patronizing in these replies is darn near as tragic as his death. I sincerely hope no family members read this.
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Roads to Nowhere
But they were going on a wilderness experience. They just did not know it. All those roads are wilderness. If you are in the "Wild Rivers Coast" area... take 199, to the coast. Even 199 can be treacherous at times, but it is a freeway compared to the others. Or stay on 101 or Hwy 5.
Another guy died in that general area some years ago, in his car. A man went missing during the Biscuit Fire, in the summer. He was never found. Closer to the Oregon Border, a man's body was found that had been missing for 20 years. A boy was lost at Crater Lake this fall, and was never found. People get lost here in cars, out of cars, on the rivers...
Don't blame the searchers. They find people all the time. It is wilderness.
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The Washington Post has poor taste
The Washington Post probably should not have published this editorial. Grieving is one thing, ranting at people trying to help is another.
I feel bad for the search and rescue techs - risk your life trying to save someone you don't even know, and only get lambasted in the national media by someone who appears to not fully understand the scope of the issue. He criticizes local search leaders, but I don't trust his criticisms - they come from a place of emotion, not rationality. He also asks for impossible demands which seem silly to me. His "every road must be gated and signed" is quite the demand. There is only 46,000 miles of interstate in the entire country, but as the article noted, over 244,000 miles of roads in 1/4 of Oregon. Signing all of those is a little, well, impossible.
In the end, this is really just a public grieving note. Why is this family more deserving of the publicity than any tragic death? This article gives me a sense of cynicism that the only reason why Kim's death is more important is because him, and his family, are richer.
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Learn from Kim's mistakes
It would be simpler to learn from James Kim's mistakes than to enact new laws which won't stop people from getting injured or dying from their mistakes. As others have said a series of mistakes created the problem. Signs were ignored and as conditions worsened the family continued on instead of backtracking.
Also after reading the governor's report on the incident the only mention of grounded helicopters was because of the ones contracted by Spencer Kim, not by the media. If he is going to place blame then he needs to look in the mirror and realize he is the reason for some of the problems he is complaining about. It does all boil down to personal responsibility as many others do travel the area safely.
I also know that many sportsmen and recreationists use those primitive roads so they don't want them all locked up to save some urban person from getting lost and hurt. Those roads and the country is why many people do go and use those areas. They don't want gates keeping them out.
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Lessons Learned
We can all take lessons from Mr. Kim's death. As one who grew up in a remote mountain area with a great deal of show, I offer my "never go anywhere without" list:
1) NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES travel to a mountain area in the winter without chains -- even if you have a four wheel drive. Snow piles up very quickly in mountain areas, snow plows cannot remove all snow and ice and they cannot keep up, and your car will not go up an icy slope without chains. If you find yourself in a snow storm on an icy hill without chains, you will be stuck regardless of your perception of your superior driving skills.
2) Always carry warm sleeping bags, jackets, water, and proper footwear (warm boots). Even if I am just traveling to a mountain area for a day during the winter, I throw a couple of warm sleeping bags, water, and a box of some type of food (bars, pop-tarts, etc.) into the car. When I lived in a mountain area, I permanently kept these items in the trunk of my car. I found myself walking more times than I can count.
3) When traveling in unfamiliar areas, carry a up to date map.
4) Don't travel in snow storms at night unless you have a four wheel drive, chains, a method of communicating with the outside world, and familiarity with the area. I have earned extra money driving snow plows in snow storms -- I've spent more than my fair share of time driving in snowy and hazardous conditions. One simply cannot see the road at night during a snowstorm. I've been lost at night during snowstorms on roads that I drove every single day. Everything becomes white, markers and landmarks become unrecognizable, no street lights or other light source exists (other than ineffective headlights), roads are not discernable as they are covered in snow, no way exists to distinguish a side road from a main road, etc. Consequently, it is just plain foolish to attempt to drive at night, in a snowstorm, in an unknown area, without an ability to communicate with the rest of the world. Stop in a safe place and wait until morning.