probably an unpopular opinion

The death of James Kim and the ordeal he and his wife and children endured is nothing short of tragic and terrible. It freaks me out in so many ways to think of losing my husband and child's father. I feel incredibly sad for his family.

That said, I am tired of seeing on the news and in the newspapers that the family "did nothing wrong." It is as if it is a mortal sin to criticize the choices the adult family members made because one of them is dead and they were very well-liked. I don't agree they did nothing wrong and it is a huge disservice to others planning similar trips to not point out where they made bad decisions.

What gets me the most is that this whole tragic ordeal could have probably been avoided if they weren't driving in the snow at night on unfamiliar backcountry roads. Who does that with two small children? "Driving south on Interstate 5, the Kims had missed the planned turnoff to the coast south of Roseburg, and after consulting a roadmap, turned off instead at Merlin just north of Grants Pass, following a thin gray line on the map through the Siskiyou National Forest that leads to Agness, then along the Rogue River to Gold Beach.

They passed signs warning Bear Camp Road may be blocked by snow, but kept going. At times James had to stick his head out the window to see through the falling snow, said Hastings." Why did they keep going? Why didn't they turn back the first sign of trouble? Why did they kept moving forward when it was snowing like that? I have not seen any reports that they had chains on their tires. People, if you are going to be driving in snow, put chains on. If you don't have chains, you probably have no business driving in the snow, especially on remote backroads. They didn't even start their trip until after 8pm and they ended up stopping at 2am. What were they thinking? All reports I have seen ignore the fact they were completely unprepared to drive in the snow. In the end, had the adults been more prepared and made better, less risky decisions concerning their travel route they certainly would all be alive.

I feel horrible for this family and their loss. It is remarkably terrible. It was, however, completely avoidable. They made bad and rather dangerous decisions. They, like many others killed while driving in floods or tule fog, underestimated how powerful weather can be. They also chose a risky route (even the most basic map shows Bear Camp Road as a long, twisty road that is not a highway or interstate--those are good clues that it may not be the best choice at any time of the year, particularly in the snow at night). They drove in conditions they were not prepared to drive in. They had no emergency gear with them, a necessity when travelling in hazardous conditions.

It is all just sad and incredibly frustrating to think about. A few things to remember to keep safe while travelling:

• If you are going to drive in snow, particularly in rural/wildreness settings, make sure you have chains and a shovel. Also make sure you have blankets, food, flashlights, flares, matches, extra clothing and drinking water.
• Before you go down any remote road in any type of weather, make sure you have more than enough fuel to get to your destination.
• Don't assume there are going to be services, call boxes or cell reception out on the "scenic" routes.
• Don't take unfamiliar, rural/wilderness roads at night or in inclement weather--this should be a no-brainer. Stick to the interstates and highways.
• That narrow, squiggly line on the map that looks like a shortcut probably isn't. Remember that.
• For the love of all that's holy, DO NOT wear jeans and sneakers in the snow or other wet weather. Really. (This is not just about the Kims. When we were in Alaska doing the Harding Icefield Hike, I was shocked at how many people I saw in cotton pants and sneakers at the lower elevations working their way up to the snow. I am sure they were in a world of hurt once they reached the snow, or their first creek crossing.)
• Make sure someone knows where you are supposed to be when you are travelling and check in with this person. The sooner you're known to be missing, the sooner you will be found.
• Communicate your travel route/itinerary to a third party and let them know if it changes.
• If you think the roads are getting dicey, stop driving. Turn around. Find a hotel. Stop while you ahead. Don't wait until you get stuck in the snow/drive through water that's too deep/drive off the road/fill in the blank.
• If you cannot see out your windshield you shouldn't be driving. Really. Figure out an escape plan ASAP. Don't keep going.
• Check the weather reports before embarking on a trip. Make sure you know how to drive in the predicted weather and that you have the gear necessary.
• Have detailed maps of the areas you are driving/hiking in with you at all times

There are probably more things, but these are just a few I thought of while mulling all this over. Perhaps I am a big 'ol meanie for criticizing the adult Kim family members, but the choices they initially made boggle me. I just cannot imagine ptor or I making those decisions, especially with our baby in tow. As humans we are all so very vulnerable to the forces of nature. Forgetting that is what gets us into trouble.