Zed sends his condolences to the Kim family.

RIP, James Kim, and peace and comfort to your family and friends.

(((((Kim family)))))

This is so very sad on so many levels. My heart breaks for his family.

screensavers, was wonderful……………..

This is tragic and I wish the CM would not treat them as they did this afternoon like tabloid news.

It could happen to any of us; they were incredibly brave and his poor wife breastfed both of her babes as she waited for her husband to bring help to them. So incredibly sad.

RIP.

Bless you, James Kim – you did everything to save your family.

(((((Kim Family))))

Very sad, heartbreaking.

CNET’s daily email included a note a couple days ago that he and his family were missing, was so compelling to get that in what is typically a geek-o-rama tech-toys digest. Feel so badly for his young family, and all the folks that worked with him at CNET.

sad… and what beautiful children! they will know Daddy did his very best…

very sad. thank goodness the wife and kids were rescued.

James and Kati did an amazing job to keep the two children alive, especially a seven month old. For Kati to keep it together for more than two days after James left, and probably knowing he was dead; I don’t know what else to say.

All of the search team and the sheriffs and troopers were heartbroken too. I watched the presser and was very moved by their humanity and pain.

We have lots of good people in our country, we lost yet more today.

This story has been much on my mind the last two days. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, one of these stories will touch your heart. This one did.

Namaste, Kim family.

I hear “experts” say the moral of the story is don’t leave your car if you get stuck in the snow, but I also knew someone who followed that rule and still froze to death.

There but for the grace of God go you or I.

I was thinking about this today. . .the randomness of going for help and the family being rescued, him gone. The sad ending.

Life does not make sense at a time like this. Condolences to family and friends. All.

I’ve been watching and hoping for a couple days. Then, they thought they had a good idea where he was and I was so hoping.
the news he died was just so sad. His poor wife and children. He died trying to save them.
It’s just so sad.

Okay, folks. Because when bad things happen, sometimes we need something to make us smile. Here, (discovered at Atrios), is Joe Lieberman the Dinosaur’s video announcement for the presidency.

http://www.thepoorman.net/2006…..f-so-when/

Evidently they were headed to the Tu Tu Tun Lodge. My significant other and I stayed there on the Rogue River just last Spring. I remember thinking of FDL and the bird photos Christy uses on the the Sunday morning talking head threads because of the busy osprey nest we watched that rested in a treetop on the opposite bank.

James Kim’s loss is truly sorrowful.

The joy I felt at the rescue of his wife and children hasn’t yet disappeared, but now must share the stage with the sadness of James Kim’s tragic death.

For the children, the Father you will never get to know was some kind of man!

Treasure your Mother for she is some kind of woman!

I watched the video and was so saddened by this. This world needs so many more soft-spoken, intelligent, family oriented people like this.

RIP

I think it was around this time last year that the young boy singing Christmas carols in his family car was killed by a plane sliding off of a runway.

You just never know when your card is gonna get pulled from the files.

Life is so damn uncertain that you don’t play with it recklessly as Bush and Rove have done.

Reminds me of the absurdity of this confounded war and how many have been cavalierly sent to their deaths.

My best to the Kim family. I am sure that their loved ones will rally to their cause and let the children grow up knowing how much their mother and father loved them.

-GSD

Any man who has the joy of having kids, recognizes the love in the picture up top. The recognition is intuitive and instinctual. I could not bear to live if my daughter, my sweet Princess, passed before me.

I remember the Screensavers show.

I was …pleased is not the right word…grimly satisfied? when the sheriff said unequivocally that the family did not want to talk to the press. I so hope that any that attempt such an intrusion before the family assents is met with deserved contempt, delivered by that same sheriff.

On a brighter note, Nancy Grace seems to be in a bit of a pickle, according to Joe Scar.

My condolences to the Kim family. : (

I do love the joy and love reflected in his face and his armfuls of his babies in the picture…

egregious @
3

(((((Kim family)))))

Me too.

There are lots of things one could say about this, second-guessing what might have happened if….

But, the raw reality is that accidents do happen, and most everyone does the best they can do at the moment with the resources at hand. Sometimes, bad decisions turn out to be bad decisions, although they may seem the best of all the alternatives at the time.

The simple truth is that none of us can predict what we might do in the same circumstances. One day, life is manageable and under control, and the next, it’s chaotic and unpredictable, and we have to think in ways we’ve never had to in the past.

Crummy end to it all.

angie @ 24

I do love the joy and love reflected in his face and his armfuls of his babies in the picture…

So do I. I just hope that he enjoyed a life well-lived. : )

Poor man. At the risk of sounding cold, it’s an object lesson in exactly why, when one is traveling to take provisions and when one is lost, you should stay put.

I was wondering how his wife started the tire fire. They don’t strike me as smokers that would carry flint or matches, and if they did have them, I’d imagine James would have taken them with him to start his own fire due to his relatively greater exposure. Plus, somehow I can’t imagine catching a tire on fire is easily accomplished with a match or lighter. I know once tires get going they really burn…but still wondering how she did it.

Muzzy @ 29

I was wondering how his wife started the tire fire. They don’t strike me as smokers that would carry flint or matches, and if they did have them, I’d imagine James would have taken them with him to start his own fire due to his relatively greater exposure. Plus, somehow I can’t imagine catching a tire on fire is easily accomplished with a match or lighter. I know once tires get going they really burn…but still wondering how she did it.

Gas from the tank and built-in cig lighter?

I thought that the family had set the tires on fire before Mr. Kim set off. Siphoned gasoline could have been used and then there is the possibility that they had a lighter in the vehicle…

montag @
26

There are lots of things one could say about this, second-guessing what might have happened if….

The report I just saw states that rescue workers were able to locate his family by following his footprints.

Who is to say what might have happened had he stayed with them; but, I know, in my heart I would have done exactly the same thing.

He was brave, he was courageous, he struck out against the elements and he lost. But, perhaps he saved his family in doing so. I prefer to think that this is the case.

God bless his children.

What a brave young family. I wish it had ended with James’ safe return, but unfortunately, it didn’t. His wife and children should be very proud of James’ actions, and their own.

Very sad news indeed. In the outback they always say stay with the vehicle; there the killer is heat and thirst not cold. That said, it is clear he was doing the very best he could for his family, which is all that can be asked of anyone.

In 1997, my husband and I were looking for a place to retire to from 30 years in Michigan.Too much winter,don’t you know. So we went to Ashland OR to look around and then decided to go Gold Beach and the coast.We went up to Grants Pass and then on to a road west and almost immediately got lost. This was in July and I’m sure we were on the same road(although I hesitate to call it a road) that the Kims’ were on. It was very scarey in midsummer…in midwinter,it must have been horrendous. One lane, sheer dropoffs, unpaved,forrest all around. Amazingly beautiful but very scarey. When I read the story in the Seattle Times I immediately knew where they were and hoped for the best. There are still places in this country where one can disappear.

Been following this too. And was hoping against hope…

The sheriff type they interviewed on my channel said he would need some time to cope with the disappointment. Thought it was a nice proxy for Mrs. Kim tonight.

Reminds me we aren’t here long.

This stuns me.
Not an obsessive follower of The Screensavers, but familiar.
The photo tells the whole story.
How incredibly sad.
The girls are left with the memory of a heroic father, but are too young to make due with a memory.
Losing a parent as an adult is difficult,
as a child, just plain tragic.

I read that they may have used a computer map program that got them on this terrible winter road. If so, I would hope that something is done to correct that.

My deepest sympathies to the Kim family.

MargaretPOA @
28

Poor man. At the risk of sounding cold, it’s an object lesson in exactly why, when one is traveling to take provisions and when one is lost, you should stay put.

Sorry, your comment isn’t just cold, it’s heartless. Perhaps you are some superior being who would have had the right provisions, and would have stayed put, and had the right outcome. Most of us are mortal, not “superior” beings. I really am offended by your comment.

Heartbreaking. Tear inducing. Children who will miss being raised by a stellar man. Rough, man, fucking rough.

When they found his family Mon., and he had set off on foot I was terrified this would be the result.

I have been on that road too M.Tyler…in the summer…and it is no man’s land. Remember the big story last year about the missing family in a motor home, from Ashland, and how the grandparents turned out to be wanted? Same damn road. You’d think they would have signs in the winter!

After last week’s snow storm and the low temps ever since, it is deadly out there. The family did everything right considering the circumstances (that’s why both of our cars are always equipped with coats, blankets, dry food, etc.), yet at some point we would all have to think about trying to get help.

My understanding is they found the family through a cell phone they had when someone tried to text message them.

They were lost since the 25th of November and did all they could, including making a SOS out of reflective tape on the top of an umbrella that the helicopter that the family had hired finally spotted.

Their terror must have been so great.

I cannot even begin to fault them, I only feel sad for them all and would hope to be so brave if faced with similar dire straits.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/arti…..MQGS24.DTL

“stay put” well he did for NINE DAYS- until they were about out of food…at that point- well you figure you better DO something.

I don’t like the timeline of this tragedy. The family was lost for NINE days. When did the search for their vehicle actually begin? When did the authorities learn that the family had dined in Roseburg? Need to get more info on timeline of rescue operation.

I think that someone in San Francisco raised a red flag when the family didn’t return..and the rescue began at that point…

Timeline of the search

Detailed overview of the story via the SF Chronicle.

Balrog @
19

I watched the video and was so saddened by this. This world needs so many more soft-spoken, intelligent, family oriented people like this.

RIP

Amen.

Suzanne @ 46– that link goes to the timeline; perhaps this is the detailed overview you meant to link?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/…..AKIM06.DTL

But those same rules did not hold House GOP leaders back from setting a vote Wednesday on a bill to limit fetal pain during late-term abortions, a measure GOP leaders shied away from offering before the November midterm elections and which stands no chance of passing the Senate even under GOP control.

Proponents, however, said bringing it up has educational and symbolic value. Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., the bill would require abortion providers to tell women seeking abortions after 20 weeks of gestation that such a process will cause the fetus pain, a statement that some scientists dispute. The woman would then be required to either accept or reject fetal anesthesia in writing.

Bringing up the bill is a final jab at Democrats who have professed to favor informed consent laws, according to the measure’s sponsors. Smith also said its very floor debate, short though it would be under special rules, has educational value to anyone who might hear it.

And Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a possible presidential contender, has said he would try to bring it up in the Senate this week if the measure gets the required two-thirds majority House rules require.

Since any senator can halt legislation, any such move by Brownback would be almost guaranteed to be blocked by abortion rights senators

The key to this story is: When did the rescue authorities learn the family had dined at 8:30 PM in Roseburg on the 25th? The timelines referenced above do not answer that question. IN fact, the timelines referenced indicate that the search for the vehilce started on the Decemebr 2, SEVEN FULL DAYS after the famiy disappeared (the 25th).

What I can’t understand about the story is why the guy left the road he had driven down- and which he knew led to civilization- and turned down a ravine..Just strange…

Lost since the 25th of November – Oregon up to WA got pummeled for days by heavy heavy snow that Thanksgiving week. The ski resorts like Mt. Bachelor in south central Oregon up to Crystal Mountain in WA got about 5 feet of snow. I actually skied at Bachelor on 11/25 and 11/26 with new snow each day being very substantial. Driving back across the Mt. Hood pass was a crawl for several miles even though it was getting ploughed around the clock. Getting stuck on an untraveled OR road at a high enough elevation that weekend in particular was deadly.

My condolences to the Kim family…

The CNN news report stated Kim had two “lighters” so they had a source to start a fire.

I disagree Nina, I lived in rural Oregon for 19 years and received training from my ex-husband and my father on survival techniques. My father retired Wildlife biologist for the US Forest Service and my ex was a survival instructor for the USAF. When I commuted to work RN evening shift during snow storms, I had a sleeping bag, food and water in the car, chains and wearing gear to walk out if I needed to and packed my working clothes. People who live in areas where they could be at risk should pack their vehicles with this in mind.

Now that I live in Arizona, I have a box with bottles of water and other safety items. When I go on a road trip, packing is about what I might need in case of emergency.

There have been many sad and sometimes happy stories of families who set out for a day trip up to Mt Hood and ran into bad weather, became stuck in the snow or took the wrong road. Sometimes it could be something as simple as a orange parka that can be put out on the snow so that searchers can find the vehicle. Now in AZ it is the same except it is a day trip into the desert without the necessary survival items even water.

(rwcole – he may have thought it was the turn he was looking for, not hard to do in bad weather)

I’ve been following this from the beginning also and am devastated. Not only as an avid follower of The Screensavers but as someone who did a guest segment on the show back in 2002 and got to meet and spend time with James and Patrick (he interviewed me for the segment, live, pretty cool time) and Kevin Rose and all the other good folks there. I got to spend two days at the studio during the show I did and as a “walkaround” in the studio during the next day’s show (all live TV btw, an amazing feat these days).

All of the folks there were and are special people who went out of their way to make a stranger to television feel welcome and comfortable and part of their family, if only for a day or two.

Like others have said not all of these stories affect us the same way but this one has really hit me in the gut.

Jane, you probably saw me on the show.

For those of you wanting more info, this is an archive of the biggest local paper’s coverage:

http://www.mailtribune.com/special/missing/kim/

More here: http://www.mailtribune.com/

katymine- thx for the comments. You are a treasure. I have not been following the story, but from comments here, it looks like they had at least some provisions, and held with them for quite a while. I don’t live in the area, so I don’t know the terrain. What I was offended by in the comment I referenced was the assumption that they had not made provisions, and some how the comment seemed heartless. Perhaps I was over-reacting, in light of the tragedy. Thanks.

katymine, you are lucky to have that knowledge and background.

The Kim family did not live in an “at risk” area, though they did travel to one and they had an infant and toddler and endured 9 days of worry and agony ’til the wonderful miracle happened and Kati and her children were found…

I cannot blame any of them at all.

It has become a trend to “blame the victims” in our country. (unfortunately imho.)

Their dad and husband was doing what was naturally brave and loving– and so was their mommy.

RIP.

When every action seems somehow risky and questionable, as after a while it must have to Mr. and Mrs. Kim, how to decide which one to do? May the family and friends keep their good memories of James Kim, and let go of the sad ending of his story.

rwcole @51

What I can’t understand about the story is why the guy left the road he had driven down- and which he knew led to civilization- and turned down a ravine..Just strange…

Perhaps as a result of advanced hypothermia, which is associated with irrational behavior (and sometimes shedding of clothing).

Hi pups -

For me James Kim’s death and his families’ (born and made) losses are tragedies.

I appreciate the sensitivity expressed here for the family.

… and I also believe MargaretPOA’s comment was made in good faith (this is not any disrespect or snark to nina or other commenters).

Angie, I love you, but the Kim family and I live in an huge risk area: SF Bay. (silly me: I moved here from the LA Basin, with equally awful risks.)

Please pups – don’t bite – I’m not suggesting the Kims or their grieving friends and family are at fault.

With few exceptions, none of the suburban/urban commuters* I’ve know in Santa Monica or the Bay Area carry a day’s supply of water/dry food in their cars. Few of my fellow SoCal sandal wearers kept a pair of sturdy shoes in the trunk. Here in the Bay Area, my colleagues in Santa Clara county were incredulous that I carried a small tent, winter gear, and a few days rations – with a WEEK of water – in the trunk on my 100 mile daily commute. We worked in San Jose – those who drove over the Coast Range from Santa Cruz had never thought about what they’d do to stay alive if they were stuck in the pass for a few days. (Big surprise – they were physicians ;)

A single earthquake will sever the transport grids in SF, LA – wherever. We’ll be walking home – and for most of us in the worst affected areas there will be no help – just like Katrina. Not to diss emergency services – they are heroes – but the “big one” (whatever that may be where you are) will overwhelm their capacities.

Hope all the on the Lake and elsewhere have the good fortune to drive about with five days of water, three days of dry food, and cold(warm) weather gear – AND HEAD COVER: CAP AND HAT – and we never need it. {And may we all the good fortune to have two weeks’ worth of food/water/meds/pet food stashed at home – blessings on those with wells…and /or basements!]

Love to all

Kirk

(*I’m from LA where “commuters” drive cars)

This story broke my heart. I live in Portland, Ore., and have been following the story closely. Today, while I was having lunch, it appeared they had found James Kim alive. There was excitement, and then the awful realization…

So so sad. The commentators kept using the same word for his apparent effort: “superhuman.”

He loved his family so much, he just kept slugging along.

Heartbreaking.

Really a shame. 9 days? The horror.

Kirk, I take your point and always do look for the what might we learn. I am originally from Chicago, and moved to the Bay Area 10 years ago and I still have the case of water, candles, gloves, sweatshirt, rain gear etc. sitting on top of wheelwells to give more traction for the snow we seldom have in Sausalito. Still I would be out of supplies with a family in 3 days.

Too bad Iridium was such a flawed product. Cool idea, lousy phone.

Can we invent some new little GPS emergency tracker and call it the James Kim?

from the looks of the family photos he clearly joyously loved his family — with wild abandon!! Would that we all could say at the end of our lives, that we loved so much and so well!

It strikes me that his family was found and rescued probably about the time of his death or shortly afterward. Perhaps he did in death what he valiantly tried to do in the last few hours of his time here on earth. Who says he had nothing to do with their rescue?? Me, I think that their rescue at the same time if his demise was not a coincidence. He had a hand in it.

And that, my dear friends and firepups, really is LOVE.

Rest in Peace. I wish it would have been different.

Jane,

I used to watch the Screensavers as well and agree with your sentiments. I was a regular viewer.

James Kim was a regular contributor to that show, which had a very family friendly and had a real joyous geekiness to it. You could tell that everyone on the show liked working together. He was one of the regular contributors to the show.

He will be missed and obviously undertook a dangerous journey to try to save his family that turned tragic for him, though thankfully they were saved.

Jane – Thanks for this excellent tribute and post. He will be sadly missed and never forgotten. His family is held comfortingly in thought. I’m another who feels that he somehow tapped into an invisible lifesaving technology of sorts as his treasured family was found. That is love.

This is all very, very sad. James King was such a cutie.

Oops I mean James *Kim* was such a cutie. I’m glad his family survived.

rat bastahd

Sorry to be so late in answering.Didn’t look at the blogs after I posted. We settled on the Olympic Peninsula in WA,so I haven’t followed the news from Ashland. I remember a road sign just out of Grants Pass saying This Road Closed in Winter but who knows if its still there. And I also remember that it’s not possible to turn around on parts of that road. It’s a very narrow one lane road with a steep (and I mean mountain steep) drop on one side and dense forest on the other.The only way to go is forward.One of life’s more interesting lessons.I am immensely impressed that the mother and two children survived with as little resourses that they had for so long. Mama nature can be a harsh mother.

“Well I’m a big geek and back in the day when The Screensavers was hosted by Leo LaPort and Patrick Norton (before G4 took over and trashed it), it was the the best show on tv. I don’t think I missed an episode for years…”

My thoughts exactly on Screensavers. And thanks for the update on Mr Kim, I didn’t recognize the name. Very sad. It is very easy to get disoriented in snow, the whole landscape looks different.

Never would have pegged you (or any other prominent blogger) for an anime fan…

No, I have nothing on topic to say..

Watt @ 70

“Well I’m a big geek and back in the day when The Screensavers was hosted by Leo LaPort and Patrick Norton (before G4 took over and trashed it), it was the the best show on tv. I don’t think I missed an episode for years…”

Kilt Day & the occasional use of a sledgehammer.

How many roads are there in this wilderness? How long would it have taken a helicopter to fly along these few roads? Even if they are deep with snow, you can still see the cut through the trees from a helicopter. Nine days just seems like a long time to find a car sitting in the middle of one of the few roads in the search area.

I drove down the Oregon Coast in September From Astoria and had to drive to California to cut back up on 199 to take the interstate back to the bay area. That Grants pass area is starkly beautiful, windy roads, steep ravines, truly spectacular. West of there is very sparsely populated.

It would be like outerspace in the winter. He certainly fought hard. Prayers for all, particularly the survivors.

Massachusetts @ 73

How many roads are there in this wilderness? How long would it have taken a helicopter to fly along these few roads? Even if they are deep with snow, you can still see the cut through the trees from a helicopter. Nine days just seems like a long time to find a car sitting in the middle of one of the few roads in the search area.

I totally agree. I’m wondering when the rescue authorities got the info about the family dining at 8:30 PM in Roseburg on the 25th. How long after they got that info did it take to find the vehicle.