...are attributes that can make people do things above and beyond what they normally would attempt. Such was the case with James Kim, the 35 year old husband and father, who set off through deep snow in an attempt to rescue his stranded family. As it turns out, authorities misread a map, and they then miscalculated on just how far he had walked through the wilderness while without proper food, or clothing. (See this article: Calif. Man Walked 16 Miles Before Dying @ http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Dec10/0,4670,MissingFamily,00.html.
Over the course of the days he was alone, on foot in that bitter cold wilderness, he walked a total of 16 miles from his car in an attempt to find help. Now 16 miles may not seem like much; but when it is freezing cold, when you are hopelessly lost, when you don't have sufficient food to keep you going, when you don't have proper clothing to keep you warm, well then such is an outstanding feat. In fact, it is quite possible that he walked much more than 16 miles if he meandered about while lost. He was one heck of a good father and husband to have taken that chance, sadly he paid with his life.
There are some lessons to be learned by the rest of us when we travel, especially when, but not only necessarily when, we travel that far from home. Keep supplies in your car. The supplies should at least include road flares, flashlights with extra batteries, drinkable water, food stuffs, protective clothing (for the season), blanket(s) preferably wool, a compass, a good knife, a survival rifle (where legal), matches, a first aid kit, a cell phone with charger. It does not matter if you are a city person, or from the country, carry this stuff in your car, and your chances of survival will be better.
Another lesson to be learned is - when lost, do not leave the area in which you are lost. If anyone had any idea of the route you would be traveling, or the place you were last seen, then help is more likely to find you if you stay in one place. Of course there could be reasons to set out to look for help, such as someone in your party requiring medical assistance, but if no one is hurt, your chances maybe better just waiting for help, that is if you have supplies as outlined above.
There is one other lesson to be learned from this man's story. It is a harsh lesson about how things in life that seem trivial are quite possibly inexplicably interrelated, and how a little thing to some can later lead to a big disaster for others. Yes, I am talking about the reported fact that vandals had apparently cut a chain that had secured a gate across the road down which the Kim family had turned when they got lost. The road is normally closed for the winter, apparently because it is dangerous to travel during winter months. That act, by someone who wanted to get onto that road for whatever reason, left that gate open. It left the road accessible to the Kims; and as fate would have it, the Kims turned down that road and got stuck. Had it not been for those vandals opening that gate, the chances are that the Kims would never have turned down that road, and that Mr. Kim would have survived, and that his wife and children would have enjoyed his company for many years to come. I hope they catch the bastard(s) and convict them of negligent homicide or something to the effect. Even if they never catch them, whoever cut that chain and opened that gate is aware that he, she or they did just that, and that it led to Mr. Kim’s death. I hope it haunts he, she or them forever.
Think about that, the terrible feeling of guilt you would have to live with if you were the one who did it. Think of that the next time you are about to do something that seems just a little bad, because in the end it could lead to disaster for someone else, and to a life filled with guilt for you.
My sympathies go to the family and loved ones of Mr. Kim, a very courageous man who obviously loved his family very much.
All the best,
Glenn B
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