Still no sign of the Kim Family

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As of 5pm Sunday there still appears to be no sign of the missing Kim Family. I’ve been concerned about the treacherous area out of Merlin and was planning to go over tomorrow but I just spoke with a family friend who was just up there, (including a drive of the Wolf Creek I-5 cutoff over to the Merlin Galice road). Based on what he learned when he talked to search and rescue in that area (yesterday I think), it appears the Josephine
County search and rescue have spent a lot of time in the high country and feel it’s unlikely they made it up the Bear Camp Road or to the Agness Area. Helicopters were used as well as Snow Cat and 4WDs.

However, based on that talk I could not be sure that the lower country had been exhaustively searched – basically the area west of Merlin and up to the high country. If they failed to turn over to Agness they could have headed north into the many logging roads up there.

Here are the most recent stories about this: Oregonian (Portlands’ newspaper)
KATU TV News:

23 thoughts on “Still no sign of the Kim Family”

  1. Joe,
    I just wanted to tell you, that I think your efforts on behalf of the Kims is wonderful.
    I couldn’t believe that it, when the news reports reported the family missing, and that I had seen Mr. Kim on TV so many times. It’s as though he’s a neighbor of mine.
    I wish them a safe ending to their trip, and you the very best for being such a kind and caring person.
    May you and yours have a wonderful holiday season, and I hope the same for the Kims. I live in Connecticut and really envy your Oregon environment. New England ain’t too shabby though, and I look forward to moving to Maine at some point.
    Sincerest regards,
    Lar M.

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  2. Thanks Lar –

    I’m not doing much I’m afraid but hopefully it’ll be some little insight or search detail that finds the Kims.
    Oregon is a great place and we love living here, but it is easier to get lost here than in less remote regions.

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  3. The Oregonian reported Kati Kim as a 1997 graduate of U of O, if she lived in Eugene for 4 years she must have gone to the coast before. When you are driving south and hit Douglas county there are no restaurants, they decide to go to Roseburg to eat before heading to the coast, it is only 30 miles up the road. They get back on I-5, do they go north to 38 or south to 42? There is no way they go to Merlin, too far out of the way, the lodge is only 3 miles from hwy 101. Hwy 42 has been searched and is not as dangerous. The area that needs to be searched is the Umpqua river along Hwy 38, no guard rails, very high river and possibility the driver fell asleep and did not leave any skid marks on the road.

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  4. I edited this reply after some mapping searches showing the shortest route from Roseburg to TuTuTun in miles (certainly NOT in time) was NOT Merlin as I said but Roseburg to Powers to Agness to North Bank Road. That said I’m still thinking they’d take Merlin because it *looks* great on a map in a way Powers to Agness looks questionable. Both appear as shorter than Roseburg to Coos to North Bank Road.

    Coast Gal it’s possible but I think it’s very unlikely they’d go backwards to 38. She was probably used to Eugene to Florence but few are familar with all the routes over to the coast. The reason they might take Merlin rather than 42 is that on any map or website (e.g. look at TripCheck.com the state traffic site) it *looks* like a shortcut to the coast.
    Also I’m pretty sure TuTuTun is more than 3 miles up North Bank road by all routes (it certainly is if you come in from 101 going North after passing over the River just north of Gold Beach, but I’m not familiar with the other way to get to North Bank road if you were driving south on 101.
    The Bear Camp route hits the Lobster Creek bridge which is just up from TuTuTun.

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  6. Hwy 38 is the main route. The Kim’s were on vacation and from a big city. The did not stop and eat at a mom and pop place, that went to Denny’s. A well known establishment. It is possible they missed the Coast exit on I-5, decided to stop in Roseburg and eat before getting back on the freeway. They could have got on the freeway intending to go south but went north, either way they dont go to Merlin. There are no freeway signs that say to the Coast at the Merlin exit. The Merlin-Galice road is very dark at night, very isolated, not an area that you take your children into.

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  7. Coast Gal I was wrong that Merlin is shortest mileage. In fact from Roseburg to Powers to Agness to TuTuTun appears to be the shortest in miles.

    Still, it’s hard to get lost on 38 or 42 – both have lots of traffic. My hypothesis is that they must be 1) in a place that has NO traffic and 2) in a place that could logically have been chosen as a route to the coast. This keeps the Galice Area on up into the mountains at the top of the list for me.

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  8. How many days have the helicopters been searching that area? This weekend was clear. If they were alive they would try and make themselves visible from the air to be rescued.

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  9. I don’t know if the choppers flew all the logging roads that are west of Galice – there are hundreds and hundreds of miles of roads up there and the fellow I spoke with today who was searching up there was not sure if that portion had been covered extensively.

    Tonight on Channel 5 they are supposed to talk more about the search details.

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  10. What’s the latest broadcast from the local radio stations?

    If they are up in the snow, then it may be too cold to wander about especially if someone is injured.

    My hope is dwindling. I think how fortunate I am to have a warm place to sleep, food and water to eat/drink, and a future.

    Thank you JoeDuck for supplying this blog.

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  11. Thanks A-M
    The local news has not been very good A-M. I have not heard a radio report yet and KOBI TV was confusing, suggesting a possible siting over in Port Orford last Sunday early morning. Choppers continue to search over at the coast.

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