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#78973 - 12/08/06 12:45 AM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
Ors Offline
Namu (Giant Tree)
Addict

Registered: 09/16/05
Posts: 664
Loc: Florida, USA
Quote:
Of course, in my own little virtual world I imagine myself to be the great survivalist, building huge bonfires and shelters, hunting for food for my family, walking out to get help, etc, but the reality of it is that I may have done the exact same things he did, or gotten myself into worse trouble.

I feel the same way. My wife and I were talking about this unfortunate situation, and she made the comment that we don't need any more gear...and I replied that on the contrary, we need a LOT more gear.

I've been working on acquiring kit for a year and a half or so. I make modifications and upgrades as I learn, and have money to do so.

I'll probably always be tweaking things, but the point is, it doesn't matter what gear you have or even what knowledge you have...when it's your time...it's your time.

That doesn't mean that we can't try to delay when that time comes.

My whole point is, I think it was Maya Angelou said, "You did the best you could with what you knew, and when you knew better, you did better."

I may think that I'd have the gear and knowledge to pull my family through this particular situation, but if it truly happened to me, I might end up like Mr. Kim in spite of my efforts.

I would say that for the apparent lack of preparation (at least to ETS standards) this family did REMARKABLY well in surviving. The whole family could have died from hypothermia the first night...but they survived for NINE DAYS before the car was found.

The surviivng family may find little solace in that, but I think that this story is inspiring...though for James, the ending was not a happy one.
_________________________
Ors, MAE, MT-BC
Memento mori
Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat (They all wound, the last kills)

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#78974 - 12/08/06 12:47 AM Re: Doug Comprehensive Article?
Ors Offline
Namu (Giant Tree)
Addict

Registered: 09/16/05
Posts: 664
Loc: Florida, USA
Quote:
Anyway, before I veer too far off topic; it is possible to use this story to teach a lesson and still be sensitive to the emotional needs of the family who survived. So I'd welcome an analysis from Doug and don't think it has to be hurtful. With time, I hope the family can see that articles that use their example as a springboard for saving other lives honors Mr. Kim's memory.

Well put.
_________________________
Ors, MAE, MT-BC
Memento mori
Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat (They all wound, the last kills)

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#78975 - 12/08/06 12:51 AM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
JCWohlschlag Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 11/26/06
Posts: 724
Loc: Sterling, Virginia, United Sta...


Although the picture shows its open water use, it would be a straight, bright orange line against white snow and green trees. It's probably one of the best passive signaling devices that exist.
_________________________
“Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee. Sometimes old people hike by mistake.” — Demitri Martin

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#78976 - 12/08/06 01:25 AM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
JohnN Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 10/10/01
Posts: 966
Loc: Seattle, WA

A few more details here.

-john

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#78977 - 12/08/06 01:29 AM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
samhain Offline
Addict

Registered: 11/30/05
Posts: 598
Loc: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
I concur.

If I were found in a similar situation, I would hope y’all would dissect every action/choice made.

It would please me to no end to think that my last actions on Earth would be useful to teach others.

Mr. Kim succeeded in keeping his wife and children alive. I could only hope I would do as well in a similar situation.
_________________________
peace,
samhain autumnwood

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#78978 - 12/08/06 01:38 AM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
OldBaldGuy Offline
Geezer

Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
It does sound interesting, but also seems to be a bit overprice, at least in my opinion...
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OBG

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#78979 - 12/08/06 01:42 AM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
picard120 Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 763
New GPS will able to get signal in that heavy wood terrain.

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#78980 - 12/08/06 01:49 AM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
picard120 Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 763
I can't afford to burn up fat. I don't have any on my body. I am all lean muscles like Bruce Lee.

I am trying to gain weight by eating large calorie meals.

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#78981 - 12/08/06 02:46 PM Re: James Kim: Snowbound Vehicle Info and Analysis
norad45 Offline
Veteran

Registered: 07/01/04
Posts: 1506
Quote:
If you're preparing for an event that has a very small likelyhood of happening, you've just crossed the line from being prepared to being paranoid.

I guess my earthquake preparations classify me as paranoid then.
Quote:
would like to know what other people would have done in that situation, with what you currently carry in the car.

I would have chained up and driven out (thank goodness I carry tire chains instead of a liferaft, right harkev? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
As far as snoeshoes go, trust me, it's a lot easier to travel in moderate to deep snow with them than without. I would not have attempted to walk out in deep snow without a pair, even if it were only something I cobbled together.
Quote:
More food would have made them more comfortable, but they didn't die of starvation, so I still don't agree that it would have helped a lot.

It might have given him the confidence to stay put, which without the other gear, he probably should have done.
Quote:
A signal mirror might be a good idea IF there was someone out there looking, but they already had a signal fire, which in this situation would probably be better than a mirror. Still nobody saw it

They had a fire at the car. I've seen no evidence that James built one while hiking out. We'll have to wait on that one. At any rate, a mirror would have taken far less time for James to deploy than a fire would have taken to build.
Quote:
A map and compass would definitely be nice things to have, but I would assume he had a road map with him, and I know those cars come with a built in compass,

Try removing the cars electronic compass and see if it still works. I bet it doesn't, and so would be worthless to James. A roadmap that did not show the inevitable criss cross of logging raods would probably be of little value as well.

I get the sense that some people may think that analyzing what happened to this family is somehow disrespectful to Mr. Kim. Nothing could be further from the truth. He did the best he could with limited gear. Discussing this incident has already convinced me to add snowshoes and a cell phone antenna extension to my vehicle, and perhaps swap the regular shovel I carry for a snow shovel. And what room I need, I'll make. It's that important.

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#78982 - 12/08/06 03:17 PM Wilderness Medicine Blog
jshannon Offline
Addict

Registered: 02/02/03
Posts: 647
Loc: North Texas
http://www.healthline.com/blogs/outdoor_health/

Paul Auerbach wrote about the incident.


Edited by jshannon (12/08/06 03:19 PM)

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