Ultimately, the point of all these words is not to idly examine the actions of those involved in the Kim tragedy, but to use the lessons learned to devise a set of recommendations that might reduce future fatalities in the Oregon wilderness. At least some of our ideas might be more broadly applicable in the United States, or even farther afield.

We’ve divided our ideas into two categories. One consists of ideas directly traceable to the Kim tragedy. By that, we mean ideas that, if they had been in place before the Kims entered the Rogue Wilderness, might have kept them out of the area to begin with, reduced the hazard of being there, or improved the chances that they would be rescued safely.

The other category of ideas are those that, while not bearing directly on the Kim tragedy, were generated by having been immersed in the story. We caution readers not to regard our indirect recommendations as evidence of failures relevant to the Kim case. Instead, they should be regarded as additional ideas that emerged while we were thinking about wilderness safety.

Ideas - Direct

Educate travelers about Northwest realities. Northern California, Oregon and Washington have a benign public image. In the public mind, this region is a rainy place with little danger to speak of. Rural residents know otherwise, being familiar with fierce storms, dense fog, flash floods, sudden landslides, rugged topography and sheer remoteness.

In general, there is a paradox at work in the U.S., of increasing concentration of people and wealth in urban areas versus declining population and strained budgets in rural areas. The result is that urban travelers in rural areas can have inflated expectations of road maintenance and services available in the countryside, especially wilderness areas.

In particular, we think some of the ecology-minded residents of Portland, Seattle and San Francisco have lulled themselves into complacency about the potential hazards of wilderness travel. If they and other urban residents were more informed about realities of wilderness areas, we think future Kim families would be more likely to heed warnings and carry emergency supplies before heading into the wilderness, even for quick trips.

Remind travelers to keep their wits about them. Convenience can breed complacency. The Kims lived their lives in urban areas with all the latest amenities. They drove a comfortable, late model all-wheel-drive vehicle. They reached Bear Camp Road via a smooth, four-lane divided highway. They carried the latest communications equipment. When combined with their haste and determination to reach their destination, and an image of Oregon as having a benign climate, they fell into a state of complacency that enabled then to disregard warnings, environmental cues and ordinary prudence.

We think drivers need to be reminded that modern conveniences provide less protection than they might imagine. People must pay attention to warnings and to common sense issues like trip planning, fatigue, weather, emergency supplies, fuel levels, the mechanical condition of the vehicle and the like. James and Kati Kim could be poster figures for such a campaign, having disregarded a diverse array of warnings and environmental cues in their haste to reach their night’s destination.

SAR management changes. Ironically, the nearly chaotic state of SAR management in southwest Oregon had only a minor impact on the Kim search. However, the flaws uncovered by the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association are serious and should be addressed. In particular, the state’s coordination role should be enhanced, and sheriffs of counties containing wilderness areas should do considerably more to plan for emergencies. We note, however, that budgets are declining. Therefore, while SAR changes are desirable, we think public education is likely the most effective means of preventing tragedies similar to those that befell the Kims.

Ideas - Indirect

Map change. While we disagree with those who think the Oregon highway map was responsible for the Kims’ imprudent foray onto Bear Camp Road, we do think there is merit to the view that remote roads are depicted in a way that might be too reassuring to drivers unfamiliar with their realities.

Rather than label such routes in thick black ink, we suggest a lighter shade and/or a thinner line to designate such roads. However, we quite strongly reject the idea of omitting such roads altogether. That approach is too paternalistic for our taste; it smacks of the notion that “what they don’t know won’t hurt them.” A map should give accurate information, not withhold it. Directional signs on Bear Camp Road. Interviews with Kati Kim make it clear that she and her husband were not misled by the directional signs at the intersection of Bear Camp and the logging road. But reporting of the tragedy has highlighted local confusion over the signage there, and it should be made clearer.

Gate redesign. We are Americans who strongly believe that the federal government merely manages, rather than owns, public lands. Therefore, we oppose closing the logging road that the Kims chose on Nov. 25. At the same time, we think gates can be redesigned to make it more difficult to pass, yet still possible for those determined to do so. A permanent half-gate design would be one possible approach.

Warning signs. While we believe it borders on the absurd to suggest that drivers will disobey “winter” road warnings prior to Dec. 21, we think there is merit to strengthening the impact of warnings against casual use of the Rogue’s back country roads. One approach would be to set up low-power AM radio transmitters at the eastern and western edges of Bear Camp Road, with short messages outlining the hazards of bad-weather travel in the area. Another would to erect signs at eastern and western approaches stating, “Hazardous Roads Ahead: Route to Coast May Be Blocked.”

Internet tips. We’ve seen suggestions that SAR operations be more accessible to tips delivered via the Internet. We remind readers that the Kim tragedy was caused by the age-old basic human failures of haste, carelessness and inattention. We caution against regarding the Internet, or any other technology-based approach, as a panacea. As with phone tips, Internet tips need careful screening to avoid information overload and well-intentioned meddling by overenthusiastic members of the public.