This is an update to this post. I haven't extensively researched the case of the San Francisco family (James Kim) who were trapped on a road in Oregon, but what I've seen and read so far leads me to several uncomfortable questions that others don't seem to be asking.

First, some background: it appears that they took Bear Camp Road for twelve miles and then turned onto BLM 34-8-36, taking that for fifteen miles until they were stuck. The Oregon state map (PDF) shows only about a dozen roads leading off 5 to get to the coast between Roseburg (when they were last spotted) and Medford. Since they were trying to get to Gold Beach, focusing on those routes would seem to have been the first priority. In fact, Google Maps gives the directions for the route they took.

With that said:

1. Bloggers should stop offering tips unless they know what they're talking about. (1,2; note that both those posts have AffiliateLinks)

2. I think the search efforts should be reviewed, to say the least. On Sat. 12/2 the Oregon State Police posted this (quoted here):

Following search efforts Friday and early this morning, Curry County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Dennis Dinsmore confirmed that the length of Bear Camp Road was checked by Search & Rescue personnel and deputies using 4 x 4 vehicles and a Sno-Cat without finding any sign of the vehicle. Support air search efforts also have not located any sign of the vehicle in their county. Their efforts, supported by similar search efforts involving Josephine County Sheriff's Office, found no sign of the vehicle between Grants Pass and Gold Beach.

And, they said they were going to check side roads.

Now, we're informed ("Vandal cut lock on gate blocking road where Kims stranded", link) that BLM 34-8-36 is normally blocked in winter, but "vandals" had broken the lock. That word is completely inappropriate in this case, because people don't break locks just for a thrill. This area site offers some possible suspects:

His job is to drive around the wilderness keeping an eye out for fires, poachers, wood thieves and stealth marijuana "farmers." He also helps out the good guys like snowed-in hunters and wild mushroom gatherers. When I heard about this "vandalism" today, I figured that it was most likely done by a poacher, wood thief or pot "farmer."

And, that tells me that plenty of locals knew about this road. Those searching this road should have known that the gate should be locked, and they should have sent someone to investigate.

Furthermore, on Dec 1, a local - calling the Bear Camp Road "infamous" - tried to contact various searchers, saying that a "search of the many logging roads off of the Merlin to Gold Beach route is called for here".

The bottom line appears to be that those leading the search did not take advantage of local knowledge. As I know from personal experience, local residents who work at outdoors shops and the like are familiar with their local roads and have a good idea which routes people are likely to take. They would also notice that a gate was not locked when it should have been.

3. Kim was apparently only 27 miles at the most from finding some form of habitation. He walked five miles down the road and then five miles through a rough gorge. The energy expended in the latter could have been spent on the road, and he might have made it. The google Earth shots here supposedly show the location of the car and where he went into the gorge. Note that the road is level to downward-sloping, meaning that he could have traveled fairly quickly all things considered.

4. The media has been completely, utterly useless in this matter, concentrating only on the emotional aspects and failing to provide detailed information on how to avoid and get out of similar situations. They have also handled this matter from the perspective of those who are completely unfamiliar with hiking, the wilderness, and the like. See, for instance, the Seattle Times' PDF "map" here.

The media could help people be a little bit more self-reliant, and instead they just played to the emotional aspects of this issue and encouraged people to sit and wait for AAA to arrive.