GRANTS PASS, Oregon-
The family that was stranded on a logging road for days, leading the father to a desperate and fatal hike for help, turned onto the road thinking it would lead them out of the snow, a new report says.
The Kim family captured national attention last month as rescue workers followed a trail of discarded clothes to James Kim’s body. His wife and two young daughters stayed with their car and were rescued.
The report released Thursday tells the story of Kati Kim, James’ wife, and the fateful turn.
The review began after media reports suggested officials did not effectively use tips about what road the Kims might have taken. The review noted “frequent confusion” over who was in charge, but there is no firm evidence searchers could have reached the family in time to save James Kim, said Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger, who led the review.
The family was on the way home from a Thanksgiving visit when they took the wrong turn on a backcountry route through a national forest. At a fork in the road, they turned left but backed up after seeing snow ahead. They turned right, thinking it would lead to the lodge where they had reservations, Evinger said.
The Kims followed the logging road 21 miles (33.8 kilometers) but stopped at night to use their gasoline for warmth while waiting to be found. The car became stuck when more snow fell the next night.
Kati Kim did not recall seeing three signs warning the road could be blocked by snow, but she did see a parked snowplow that led her to believe the road was maintained, Evinger said.
