This road is a death trap (*DISTRESSING CONTENT*)
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- Опубликовано: 24 июн 2021
- *WARNING, distressing content*
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#1 -- "Bear Camp Road" -- 0:44 -- This road is a death trap
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*There is NO SECRET in this video*
Take it from a tourbus driver: the road you already passed and therefor know is always better than the road you don't know.
Lost? Go back the same way you came. Trust me.
Yep. I always prefer the devil I know.
100 percent!
As a truck driver it’s almost impossible to make a u turn and sometimes have no choice .
I totally agree
EXACTLY. Main rule of hiking in unfamiliar terrain: NEVER leave the trail. No matter how windy and zig zaggy it is, it will ALWAYS be faster than going off trail, especially without a compass. I was literally so frustrated hearing the last part of James’ journey, I feel so horrible for him and his family. NEVER leave the trail. EVER.
What bothers me most is that James likely thought he had failed and his family would die. He likely died with that thought.
I agree. Sad but true. At that point though, with no food, water, hyperthermia, and exhaustion, honestly his mind might have started to kind of “go” hours before he ultimately collapsed. You could absolutely be right and he had a flash of that just before he lost consciousness, but I would say it’s roughly equally probable that he didn’t, your body shutting down like that is a process that includes your mind and it’s ability triceps clearly/accurately/effectively, I’m just thinking he may have not been able to think clearly about them leading up to his collapse. Just trying to make myself feel better i guess. Because the thought of that being his last clear thought/vision is indeed heartbreaking, it’s at least possible that it wasn’t. Mind may have been long gone, in terms of being able to think clearly like that.
Wow man. Heart breaking. I’m gonna get off of RUclips now and go spend time with my baby boy and wife.
☹️awww
@@rodneyshackelford7529 absolutely agree with that.
Absolutely. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to communicate something to someone more. James, you are an absolute hero and you saved your family.
The fact that his foot prints are what saved his family is beyond me. That is almost haunting in a way.
its haunting but its bittersweet. they wouldn't have been found, so james ultimately sacrificed his life and saved his family in the process.
Oh wow you're right. I didn't even think about that. I hope his wife found some kind of comfort in that fact eventually. 😔
@@fruitygranulizer540yea but he could have walked to the town and lived but he still didn’t learn his lesson and went looking for a shortcut.
Yes, he pretty much HAD to sacrifice himself and that was probably why he had such a strong urgency to leave the car and attempt to find the town.
😂😂😂😂
This story is full of the “butterfly effect.” Starting with the people who left the gate open, the choice to make another trip before heading home, the choice to take an alternative route during the extra trip, the choice to not turn around when there came a fork in the road, the choice to take the road that ultimately lead to a dead end, the choice that James made that ultimately left the foot prints in the snow ect. A snowball effect of choices that they had no idea would lead to James’ death. Life is so unpredictable and terrifying.
If this story teaches us anything. It's that sometimes it's better to go with what info you know. And sometimes it's better to take the leap.
Although I guess that just means, "who ever actually knows?"
Those vandals should know what they did😢
It was a lot of bad decisions, honestly.
I mean no disrespect to Mr Kim but he made multiple stupid decisions, so sad
Those people didn't just "leave the gate open", they DELIBERATELY FORCED IT AND LOCKED IT OPEN - they are at least partially responsible for James's death😡😡😡😡😡
People please, when you gamble on taking a wrong turn...admit defeat and turn around and go the long safe way
Yeah. This is lame by comparison to this story, but once in the 90s I was driving to CA and I took this little road that on the map looked like a shortcut between I-25 south of Albuquerque and across into Arizona. It cut MILES from the trip. It was hwy 52. It quickly got very mountainy and the damn sun was BLARING in my eyes around every bend as I crept along that damn windy road. By the time I got through it HOURS later, it was dark, and I just remember being so damn tired. - that was when I learned that not all lines on the map are equal. I suppose people who know hwy 52 will laugh at me, but crap it was an experience. It was so unexpected.
ikr??!!!! should ALWAYS stick to the road and NEVER take any road off the highway....especially into the woods where you literally have no clue where it leads to...smh
Yea it was a series of very bad decisions.
I once drove up a VA mtn road and decided to turn around when I discovered I was above a thunderstorm.
@@Maverick-ne3mr I agree. Very bad decisions.
I knew James, back when he was a writer at CNET. He was an incredibly friendly, and just nice guy, all around. That man died a hero.
You just got 10 likes immediately in a second
Damn sad to hear.
Is the story about him being so attractive she only fixated on him during the whole trip they met at true though? Lol
I find it hard to believe considering Asian dudes don't get much attention from the ladies, especially ones involved in techie shit. Believe me I would know
@@dankone3 So in your mind, what, only white dudes & black dudes get attention from ladies? There are a lot of white dudes and black dudes who have no luck with ladies too. Get rid of that loser victim attitude.
@@dankone3 asians are fit af
I have to admit, I have a rather morbid fascination with this "disturbing stories" genre, but THIS one was just plain heartbreaking; I was actually tearing up at the end. 😢
The ending broke my heart 💔
Go to theync and watch it happen on video if these stories can't lick your urge for that morbid stuff
This happened not far from where i lived at the time. After hearing about all the really, really stupid and clueless choices they made, all we could do was shake our heads. If the citiboy had had a clue, he would have turned around at the first sign of snow.
@@dustysmoke4996wow you’re blaming a father who died. Do better 😢
@@sararivera6161 Oh, i have empathy for him and his family, it was truly a tragedy. But they dug their own hole from ignorance and carelessness, unfortunately. Hopefully the story about their long chain of errors will save somebody else from doing the same, then it won't be for naught.
I live in Seattle and I remember when they started looking for this family. It was very sad when they reported that James was found dead and my heart broke for his wife and daughters. Life is so fragile and unpredictable like that. A fun filled family trip for the holidays ends in such a tragic way. For his wife I’m sure she has spent many years thinking about all the things she wished they had done differently, all the endless regrets. I hope she has let go of that. That’s just life. It’s not always happy endings and growing old together. Sometimes it’s unfair and tragic, but that’s what makes it life. It’s an unknown journey full of emotions and experiences and we never know when it’ll be our last day. James gave it all he had and died trying to make sure his family survived. That’s pretty freaking heroic.
Very well said.
Only men are expected to die for their family. Its very sad.
Very very well said. I hope his daughters and wife know how much they really meant to him. Rest in peace James and God bless his family
Damn, imagine losing someone who loved you as much as James loved his family. Personally, I don't think I could remarry.
Amen... perfectly said. What a man he must have been. The power of love is a beautiful thing. What we will do and the lengths we will go. I pray she and her daughters have put this behind them and have moved on. I also pray that her daughters remember what their father did for them and live the best life they can to honor his memory.
For me, the most depressing fact is: Even though his actions ultimately saved his family- he died likely thinking that he failed them and that they would die too.
I'm sure he knows now they're safe...
@@sloth6480 no, he’s dead.
@@sloth6480 ain’t no afterlife
@@bayabooz4855 Spoiler alert !
@@bayabooz4855 dont force your beliefs on other people
I cried when the helicopter pilot said he would never have found them if he hadn’t seen James’ tracks. It cost him his life but he did ultimately save his families life . What a devastating story . But so glad the girls and Katie made it out alive .
i cried too. And I cried again, realizing he died thinking he failed. An absolute hero for his family.
I cried too. He died saving his family, which was what was most important to him. I can’t imagine how he was feeling during this
It's heart wrenching, I teared up thinking of how this loving family was torn apart. Life can be cruel, indeed. I hope the wife has found peace since then. How tragic 😭
I cried, listening to this at work, had to go smoke a cigarette. This story really shook me
A memorial should be made in his honor
Poor james, a man will go to great lengths when it comes to his family and the people he loves. My grandpa always told me when i was growing up, you find out what youre truly made of when youre faced with adversity and have no way out. What James done was so honorable and i hope every step he took he was proud of himself because he may have lost his life but he saved his family, and his children will get to carry on his legacy.
james should have kept driving or doing something rather than just sticking around wasting gas
@Mandop21 Exactly! James and Katie made horrible decisions that led to next level stupidity. James, your instincts were way too late. I simply don't understand why you waited so long. May you rest in peace for trying.
how absolutely tasteless to speak directly to this dead man while insulting him and then tack on an RIP lol, for all we know his family could find this video
It was. He is a great man, but I can't help but get frustrated that they got lost in the first place because they wanted to take a shortcut, and he does the same thing again when he is walking to the town. He was so close to town ... And he deviated. There are some great qualities in men, but one of their weaknesses is taking risk and being too confident that nothing bad will happen. It is heartbreaking that his family will have to continue life without him.
@@BlackWidow00741to be fair, he probably stayed to protect his daughters and wife just in case anything happened with the snow or the bears. He also wanted to stay alive for them, in the beginning they really thought someone might save them, it wasn't until it was clear no one would that he had to make the decision.
I looked up Bear Camp road on Google Maps and I lost count of how many dead ends I ran into just trying to go east to the nearest highway. What a scary situation that must have been. Remote roads, especially at night, terrify me so much. I've driven through remote Colorado overnight and the way the mountains just swallow up all the light of the moon is something else. 😭
Went to my grandmothers in CO. She lives in Monterose. I drove with my daughter and Wife up and down monarch mountain. What was supposed to be an hour and a half turned into 4 brutal hours of driving due to a blizzard. Most stressful driving I have ever done. I live in TX so I’ve only driven through one other blizzard. Nothing compared to that.
It reminds me of when young, newlywed self went to pick my husband who was deer hunting with a friend and it just rained for days and was cold. I had a 4x4 blazer and I had my cell phone but we didn't have GPS so easily accessible on the phone. I looked at mapquest and headed out. Once I entered this neighborhood, I guess that's what you'd call it, it was nothing but muddy roads with wooden signs and many weren't marked at all. I lost cell service and got so lost, I was going down roads that I think were actually hiking trails, not roads. I ended up trying to find the entrance and couldn't find it. I was so scared and had no idea what to do. I was terrified of stalling the engine out bc some of the puddles were more like ponds. I ended up just honking driving around and my husband heard it and knew I should have arrived long ago and set out on foot and thankfully found me. Now I make sure I prepare as much as possible and keep it in the back of the vehicles lol When he was telling this story, it really sounded almost like my trip down there.
@@ThatCamaroChicki can sense how scared you must have been especialy being alone now imagine how many other poor souls who were lost and perished
I had multiple panic attacks on that road and similar roads in the area in the middle of summer when conditions were great. The cliff sides are very scary. The narrow roads are scary. The elevations and the fact that you can’t see in front of you around the turns for other cars was scary. Again, this was in summer. I would just die in this situation. I couldn’t even imagine.
@@kristinahkrush1134 no wont die from horrer you would die from real cold and starvation though
Hope everyone who's watched this learns that when you miss a turn and decide to make a new route you shouldn't, just turn around and add the extra time.
I mean unless you traveling in a well populated area and there are multiple easily accessible routes to take.... sure.
3 wrong turns!
And stopping to sleep in a running car is never a good choice either.
@@smorgdonkey well unless your traveling on a well populated interstate with rest areas .....
@@bltn7469 that they were in such threatening conditions would have been enough to keep driving on adrenaline alone... then they never would have awakened to find conditions were much worse.
Lesson to learn: never take a road, route or shortcut that you don't know confidently. Adding trip time is always better than being lost, in danger and risking death.
There's truth to this but it's situationally dependent. In good conditions, by doing this you can find some of the most beautiful places. In poor conditions it can lead to death. The real issue is when you start out in a good situation and it turns into a poor one, for whatever reason.
But yeah, in their condition, in the winter... totally agree.
Let's also add that if you have a map, you should know how to read it correctly - it could save your life.
As a delivery driver in a past life, learned that the hard way.
You should always prep your car to survive the harshest weather and about a week of food and water if youre going out on less travelled roads. Always have tools, first aid kits and heat blankets in your car.
I don't want to sound like an heartless asshole but their situation seems likes extreme naivete.
I think some people just truly don't understand or respect how dangerous the world is.
A heartbreaking story. May James know somewhere up above that he did save his family, and his sacrifice was not in vain.
😂😂😂😂
@@DiamondCake2wtf is wrong with u man, why would you put laughing emoji is there anything funny with the comment or the story?
@@nva_69 ignore him. He's clearly challenged in the head.
I looked up some more info on this, and tragically they were stuck only a mile away from a place called Black Bar Lodge, which would've served as a shelter for them with enough food and wood for heating to last months.
😂😂😂😂
In addition to just street clothes, a jacket and sneakers, James was very thin, so he had no fat for extra warmth. Making his 16-mile trek even more superhuman. Those girls lost a tremendous father.
Absolutely he definitely was and is a true hero
But if he had some fat it would have impeded him
@@user-wy1yb7zj1j No, no it wouldn't, we're not talking about chubby fat, just not too skinny.
LoL no wonder I was freezing in the pool last winter and my brother wasn't
@@OrionDawn15Fat-detector activated
This road reminds me of Independence Pass in Colorado. My wife and I took this road on the last day of the season and it started to snow when we reached the summit. I've never been so terrified in my life. I white knuckled it all the way down the mountain while our car kept slipping. I will never take another mountain pass road unless it's warm, sunny, and 100% dry. Even then, having no guard rails is still terrifying during the day because you can see how far you'll fall if you make a mistake or your brakes give out.
Rules to survival in the backcountry:
1. Always have a contingency plan.
2. Let people know when you plan to arrive somewhere.
3. Know how to make a fire.
4. Have a survival kit and blankets.
I remember one Christmas day, my wife and I decided to take the Jeep up into the Sandia Mountains (start elevation 6,000 ft, end elevation 10,500 ft) in a pretty good snowstorm. About 1/2 way up, we found this little old man in a 4-door sedan, who had slid off the trail and into the snow filled bank on the mountain-side of the trail. He was high-centered and in about 3 feet of snow. When we found him, he was just sitting in his car, doing nothing. I kind of suspect he had resigned himself to his fate. As an avid off-roader, I always have recovery straps, shovels, etc. in the Jeep. We dug him out and yanked the car back onto the trail. I then drove his car for a minute and got it pointed the right way. Then we sent him on his way.
These days, when it snows, I still go out in my truck looking for people who may have gotten into trouble with the snow and help them out.
✌🏼OIIIIIIIO
You are doing a great job ...you are the hope of light . 🕯️
@ *Palanthis,* you most likely saved this man's _life._ He was praying for a miracle, and *GOD* sent you. What are the odds of someone coming along with the _exact equipment needed_ to dig him out, _as well as_ a vehicle _large_ enough to haul his own. Thank you for not only digging him out, but also for sticking with him for a bit to make sure he had his bearings. The fact that in your description, you weren't focusing on this guy's reaction to you (which I assume was probably extreme gratitude) tells me that you are truly a kind person not looking for kudos or attention. I hope you continue to do great things! 💯
you are a true hero for being one of the few people who continuously risk your life in order to save others who got stranded
Wow I are amazing and yes we can always help anyone
If you realize you've missed a turn and you're driving in a remote area, go back the way you came until you're back in an area you recognize. It doesn't seem like a risk to take a shortcut that looks good on a map but taking routes you don't know well can be so dangerous. This poor family.
I agree, unless you have a wild hair and two weeks worth of food, water, fuel, a ham radio, weapons, off-road vehicle, tools, etc.
RIP to this hero.
They couldn't turn around 6:50 They were going 5mph on a slippery thin road cliff in a blizzard. They tried backing out for miles.
@@watamatafoyu before they reached bear camp road
@@theacesage1778 OK I'll tell them that 😆 I mean, the story itself already makes clear what she said...
@@watamatafoyu They should have never opted to even take the bear camp road to begin with. They had a chance to turn back when they first realized they'd missed a turn after leaving Denny's and heading for the lodge but they didn't and instead took a foolish risk that ended in tragedy.
Literally brought me to tears. What a brave man. That poor family. I cannot imagine their pain.
Because the brain goes into crisis mode upon dying it releases every single feel good endorphin possible which in turn brings on euphoria and causes hallucinations. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hallucinated stumbling upon his wife and kids waiting for him in the little town he was searching for as he died. It’s certainly a nice thought because yeah, this was a tough one. 💔
😂😂😂😂
One of the things I've learned from hearing many hikers and explorer's tragic endings is you should always be aware of the weather patterns, carry satellite phones, extra food & water, and always breif a family member or friend where you are going, for how long and when to call authorities to come rescue you in case something goes wrong. Furthermore a firearm capable of defending you against weirdos or any animal you might come into contact with that is capable of causing you serious bodily harm.
I swear to god everyone who watches ballen has found him by accident
Agree... 👍🏼
Nope a friend told be to watch him and I haven't missed an episode since
Tbh one of his videos got recommended to me and it looked interesting so I watched it, and now I’m addicted to watching his videos lmao. They’re just so interesting!
I meant to click on a different video but got this and now I love his videos LAMO
I had a coworker tell me about him.
I hope his children grow up knowing how much their father loved them.
I think they do --- their Dad was a hero
Heroic.... Yes, a smart driver.... No !
All the mother has to do is tell them how much their daddy loved them and he is now your guardian Angel and what a courageous hero he is and how he’ll never be forgotten. 😔
...... and he'll never get any awards for driving skills, or road sense !
@@marby602 I think it’s common sense he lacked not driving skills. Anyone with common sense in a car with their loved ones will never make risky and idiotic decisions like these two parents.
Man, I’ve listened to hundreds of your stories but this one really made me cry. I feel so sad for this man and his family. May he rest in peace. 🕊️
literally first video to make me cry
Yeah...me too. Prayers to the family🥀🥀🥀
😂😂😂😂
As someone who grew up in ND, hearing that they went on rural highways during winter, that he was in streetwear (no winter clothes), or that the only emergency thing they had was a spare tire makes me think of how brave or ignorant they were.
I guess it is just the thought of going somewhere like that where I don't know the terrain without anything freaks me out.
I've driven through plenty of full on blizzards on interstate to get to college with unplowed roads at decent speeds, but I always did stupid things knowing exactly what I could do to survive if needed.
That father is brave as hell though, so although I would have preferred him making many tracks around the car leading back to the car (since they had the right idea of getting the attention of pilots), in a situation like that, when you don't know the right course of action, I can't really say much.
Also, 20-30 walking for many miles isn't necessarily as bad as you think, especially when you are running on adrenaline and strong motivation.
But I'm saying that as someone wearing full winter gear or even snow pants.
The fact that he did this in any form of clothing that easily absorbs water is insane.
It doesn't just steal your body heat or make it easier to freeze. While it is destroying your limbs from freezing, it is also weighing you down.
Damn! He covered 16 miles!? That was out of pure love! In those conditions, that is insane. He was so brave, and sacrificed himself , to help his family 😭
16 miles is insane. It's so tragic he lost his life. I was so worried he was going to be the sole survivor as his children and wife died. Especially when she asked him to kill her if the children died.
@@Norixciii me too. But he made the ultimate sacrifice for the love of his family
Would you have done the same?
@@du4lstrik3 I'd go through hell and high water for my family. I'd go as far as I could before my body gave out.
@@du4lstrik3 no. I would have backtracked on the known road..And, not taken a.seasonal use road, in the first place.
Now,.that neing being said, forced into the situation, in a heart beat.
Downsides: James died a horrendous death and his family and friends are left in grief. Upsides: His trek saved his family and now he is remembered as a loving hero. Rest in Peace, Mr. James Kim. I hope you experience paradise.
even if he thought he failed he knew he did his best , what a hero
i wouldn't say he died a horrendous death. At least, it's possible he didn't. They say freezing to death is one of the better ways to go, because after a certain point you no longer feel pain or coldness and you just sort of drift away in your sleep. Either way, he's definitely a hero that saved his family's life
He is in Paradise
John 15,13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Mr Kim gave his life to save his family and he is in Glory , watching over his family and still lovingly keeping his eyes on his daughters
He died a horrible death, yes, but I don't think he suffered much physically (I can't possibly know his last thoughts and if he had any hope left or not). His adrenaline and determination pushed him on. I hope he rests in peace, and his family has peace also. Poor folk
@@for-real-countrygirl4192 Amen. He really did love his family. I hope he's at peace now.
I live around 2 hours from this road and every year my dad passes it by to go camping. He LOVES off road, no running water or even a toilet camping. I know people who actively avoid this road because it is so bad. I remember hearing about this story on the news and afterwards buying non perishable food, putting 3 blankets, road flares, plenty of water and an emergency kit in my trunk.
This dude went 16 miles in frigid cold across streams and 4 mountains in 2 days. This man should always be remembered. Thanks to MrB he will be by millions
Do you think he would of made it if he would of tried it a few days earlier?
@@willcress7048 Of course he would have, they just made the wrong choices but in situations like this, it's hard to make the exact right decision.
He'll be remembered by me as an idiot who simply had to just turn the car around right when they started to wonder which way to go.
@Anonymous People will always do what they think is right, even if what they are doing isn't. I have so much respect for this man for what he THOUGHT was right for his family, yet no matter what, someone will say what he did was wrong. Obviously, it was BUT in his state and under his conditions and what they had been though, he was doing what he thought was best. How can you talk bad about someone like that? I know you arn't but it just makes me mad when people comment saying what he did was did was stupid... I mean have they ever been in that type of situation, of course not, so just ignore them. He died a hero, idc, what people say. 🙏👏
There should be a movie. Proceeds to benefit the family. If anyone knows any Hollywood types producers directors writers etc see just that they all go to Mr Ballen's channel for story ideas
“His trek was superhuman” 😞 His desperation to save his family is so evident. I can’t imagine what was going through his mind.
This was depressing 😔
I imagine that he felt he was their only chance. He did what good fathers do. He kept pushing. He would do whatever it took. There is nothing like a father's love.
the faces of his wife and kids. non stop.
@@CB-rv2lj Quite literally this. I imagine he had come to terms with his own death so long as his family was able to keep going.
Just keep swimming
Man 😔 this story hit me! Leaving his kids and wife behind as a last ditch effort to save them. That’s just horrible but atleast it was not in vein and his tracks led them back to his wife and kids. RIP James
🙏🙏❤️
Oregon weather in the valley is no joke. Most people don't expect that you can get cut off in the winter but if you live in the mountains or outskirts of the city, you know that if a snow or ice storm is coming you need to be prepared to live there for a week without power or the ability to leave. Driving out past Estacada there is no cell service for miles. God help you if there is a wild fire that blocks the road.
As a father I def dropped a tear. I can't imagine the pain of feeling helpless when trying to help my family. Thankfully he did save them. Rest in power hero
If you believe any near death experience stories his last moments were peaceful and possibly knew he saved his family.
Couldn’t have said it better bruh. I definitely got misty eyed. I pray for this mans family. Best wishes to all y’all out there. Stay safe
@Vincent Ivanoff It was an unfortunate mistake.
@Vincent Ivanoff yes, let's point fingers and put blame on the person who made the decisions along the way, when in fact these decisions could have easily been made even if the person in charge was the wife. Let's blame the wife for falling asleep and not telling her husband to make a different decision. Let's blame the kids for not being smart enough to tell their parents that the road is dangeorus. lol
@Vincent Ivanoff Dont be an arse. He more than made up for his mistake of endangering them, by saving them. If he had not gone to try to find help, they never would have seen the footsteps to his family. He loved all 3 of his girls and gave his life for them. He is honorable.
This sad story reminds me of the time one of my brothers drove from FL to MI with his two teen daughters to see his family. They stayed for about a week and my parents noticed the weather was going to get bad so said you should plan on leaving or staying later than planned. They had to get back for something so left. My mom insisted they take pillows and blankets, and gave them some heavy coats, since they didn't have any. My brother laughed about it and said sheesh there's not a lot of room for all this stuff!!! But my parents insisted. They headed out, the snow hit faster than was expected. They slid off the road and couldn't get out. No one was around. The blankets, boots, winter coats and gloves saved their lives. My mom had also packed food for them. They were stuck there for two days before a snow plow driver finally saw them.
Your mom is an Angel , she knew better , i am glad to know your story has à happy ending💓💓
My parents are the same way. I have always thought they were overly cautious, but seeing MrBallen's stories and this comment have made me realize they aren't over cautious.
I suppose that just because things have always gone right, that doesn't mean there can't be fatal exceptions.
I read a story similar years ago and always have emergency supplies, especially in the winter.
There's nothing like a good mother.
That's a great story. I lived in NY for a long time. I always kept a snow suit in the car just in case.
Two instincts I wouldve had:
1. If you turn around, go back the exact way you came
2. If you get lost or stuck and your in the middle of nowhere...dont count on rescue or a plow truck...get out of there while you still have strength and food and fuel
3. Don't drive down a unmarked or unsigned road unless you know exactly where your going.
The big thing here is....why in the middle of the night would you go down a road that is unmarked?? This is tragic but these people shouldn't have been in that area.
That's so bittersweet. He left to save his family and he did, but he died having no idea they would end up being saved.
I honestly thought this was gonna end with the entire family dying together. Though it's sad James didn't make it, I am glad his sacrifice was not in vain and he saved his wife and kids.
I agree. I was afraid Mr. Ballan was gonna say, "Unfortunately after James left, his wife and kids froze to death. He had left in vain." At least his wife and kids survived.... Rest in Peace, James.
The small details of what happened in the car during those days is the dead giveaway an adult survived..I was hoping the dad would survive as well, but the way he narrated his side of the story once he left, I knew he didn’t
His sacrifice of almost getting his whole family killed? Cause this idiot was driving.
I thought they were all going to be brutally killed and eaten by the bears.
I started off thinking they all were gonna die but the details he knew led me to believe that at least one of the parents had to have survived to tell the story. It’s such a tragedy!! My heart goes out to this entire family. Thanks for sharing this with all of us. James truly is a hero to his wife and daughters. ❤️❤️
This story actually had a pretty positive outcome. He was determined to save his family from an impossible situation, and indirectly, he succeeded. Rest well, James.
Well spoken. God bless him
Saved them and he didn’t even know it what a hero
HE GOT THEM STUCK!! Your not a hero for fucking up that bad
@@sawyerbarnes7439 actually saw your first reply in notifications too. Not sure of your age, but there’s a lot of bitterness in your words and it helps to put yourself in their shoes before you judge. We’ve all made bad decisions before and accidentally put ourselves in bad situations.
@@sawyerbarnes7439 I know what you mean but ive learned that life just happens man granted it was a bad choice but sometimes shit happens. Yes he got them stuck but in the end his trail saved them. He is square with his debt and deserves compassion. At least in my opinion brother👍
I remember when this story broke all over the news, but I never read/looked into it in detail. Can't believe they were trapped on that road for a whole week. Incredible tale of survival. RIP James.
i’ve lived in oregon my whole entire 19 years on this planet. i live in the siuslaw national forest . oregon does not keep up on are service roads , you have to be super careful especially out here in night and snow … oregon is a great place but please be careful when going into are forest
My dad used to tell me something that his dad told him: you can always take off what you have but can't put on what you don't have. Every single cold weather outing I do I bring extra clothes.
A wise man indeed.
My grandfather told me the same thing.
I was wondering if they were on vacation why didn't they have extra clothes
Dry clothes*
I'm 41 and am in premenopause according to my doctor. So I tell everybody else, the thermostat is staying on 65 and you can add on clothing I can only get so naked.
James was a very brave man. His footprints ultimately saved his family. RIP James.
bye James
@@camerontaylor7985 TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW😡
@@erickc5617 take what back?
It was actually a helicopter pilot who found the family based on cell phone triangulation. If you read the real story, there’s no mention of footprints helping in the search at all. Cool story though.
@@peteranderson92 :0 wha-
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 omg this story has me sobbing in tears I can't I just can't!! Imagine the immense guilt and anxiety this man felt and experienced trying to save his family. Then finally coming to the realization he failed them all, and that they probably were dead already frozen in the car. The last hour of his life all he probably wanted was to have died next to them in there car holding his girls!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Definitely my favorite Mr. Ballen story yet. Take action earlier when you have more energy and are of more sound mind. Being a father myself, I can only imagine his agony. RIP.
James was a true to form badass. He died after the first mile, it just took the other 15 miles for death to work up the courage to tell him.
thats fucking deep. you're 100% right
That is one of the strongest and most hard hitting comments I've seen. Really made me emotional.
@@danhedges7917 same here man.
Wow.
James is goated
I found this in equal parts depressing and uplifting. James died a hero. It's sad that he probably didn't know it - as he collapsed to the ground, his last thought was probably that he was a failure. But in a weird roundabout way he succeeded, and literally just walked through mountains and rivers straight to his death for the ones he loved. What. A. Legend.
a pure and powerful person
a true parent
Doesn't matter how he did because he was reborn in death washed in the innocence the heroism of his death. When he awoke in the next life he cried as he was shown that if he didn't make the decision to save his kids and go for a walk he would not have saved them... The rest u can argue about whether or not he regrets not going back. But again he would never went for help anyways if he was gonna comeback and give up half way through searching for the town
Straight Legend
my heart breaks for that little family, what an incredible father and husband
🥺✊😭
In every man is a warrior, and this man unlocked his full potential to save his family. Rest easy brother. Had he done something this fantastic in the line of military duty, I have no doubt he would have been gifted the medal of honor.
Dude. What resilience that man had trying to save his family.
Such a sad situation.
James accomplished what he set out to, he saved his family. RIP James Kim.
SHEEEEEEEEESH ❤️
Saw your comment and broke out in tears. Honorable and to the point.
Be at peace James Kim you're a fuckin warrior and hero!
It's not the body that matters but the heart,soul and will that impacts lives and makes this life a better experience bcuz they were a part of it...this was one of those epic true stories.
@@sarahbuffkin3083 cringe stop
Bruh he died 9 days before I was even born. Rip
Thanks for the spoiler
It's insane how unlucky they were. Deadly narrow road, no signs on the roads, hooligans breaking the gate, snow trapping them in an isolated area, no cellphone reception and fucking bears. That's really fucking rough.
yeah its like they were cursed with bad luck or something
Unlucky? Or just really BAD judgement?
It had nothing to do with luck and everything to do with extremely poor judgment. Even if you aren't familiar with an area, there's still plenty of common sense things they completely missed. The road you've been on is the road you know, backtrack and you're home free.
@@maggsbufton1969 Bad judgement is not going back same way you came and taking an unknown rd n not turning around. Curse/spiritual attack is having animals taunt you while a persistent storm is occurring. When most animal hide during storms. That's just unnatural. Anyone who can't see that is in denial.
I was thinking for the entire story that maybe they would've survived if those fucking idiots hadn't broke the gate.
RIP James🥺 you are a hero to your wife and your beautiful daughters. Your daughters were lucky to have such a brave and caring father that was literally willing to do for them🥺
If you’re ever in Oregon in winter, be aware that only main roads are plowed in winter. I’ve been over that road in summer, but in winter it’s impassible. Many roads in Oregon are impassible in winter. There have been people who have gotten stuck out there and not found til spring.
The saddest part of this story is that in the last few minutes of his life James was most likely devastated that he couldn't help his family and that his search for help was in vain when in fact that due to his brave and courageous sacrifice...he actually saved them.
Lmao 🤣 he was so stupid it was ridiculous
@@eerohughes troll.
@@eerohughes Oh really? His "stupidity" and "ridiculousness" saved his family's lives. Out of survival mode and extreme desperation he went out looking for help for his family after several days of being stuck in the snow. There's absolutely nothing stupid or ridiculous about what this man did. Nothing.
Very sad
@@eerohughes you are very hateful like a person, so mean
Never underestimate the human spirit... I’m in decent shape and get winded walking through snow 50-100 feet... this man covered 16 miles of snow, river, rocks, and elevation in just street clothes. Fuckin unbelievable.
I know right? The things love can do. May he Rest In Peace
Pure adrenaline is crazy
so true. There was a fire in my grandma house. She managed to carry two big tanks of cooking gas out of the house so that they wouldn’t explode. Her adrenaline rush was crazy.
This guy made the obviously wrong decision like 5 fucking times. Equally unbelievable
i get what u saying but you obv not in decent shape lmao
ive been binging mrballen's videos for the last few days but for some reason this is the one unnerved me the most even though it's not necessarily the most graphic or malicious...it just feels too real, like it can happen to anyone; ive definitely made a few bad turns on road trips that have led to terrible detours so this story maxes out my anxiety
also gonna use this time to say that your storytelling has been excellent. keep up the good work :)
Oh my god!!!! This story is amazing. What a hero James was. I lived in Oregon for a year, and oh man is it easy to get lost and things can go from a fun adventure to serious and scary real quick. People can’t even fathom just how Denae the forest is there unless you have been there…
I mean just how “DENSE” the forest is
born in oregon and lived in the mountains and forest my whole life. definitely a weird vibe but i love the feeling i get inside the forest here. oregon is a great place
As a father I can't imagine the heartbreak James must have felt in his last moments. But there is no greater purpose for a Dad than to give his life for his family. And james did.
that's when you hope that somehow he knows they're safe now
When people freeze to death, on average, they are often disoriented, and believe they are just falling asleep for a few minutes before continuing on.
So we can hope he believe he was about to resume and there was still hope.
well, no, hopefully the dad would have survived, a dads greatest purpose is to make sure that his children grow up and become functioning members of society
Couldn’t have said it better myself….. James is a hero.
Truth be told he loved his family as we all do but he should have prepared the car a little better….but yeah the man went out fighting for everything that he held sacred…So sad. I can’t imagine the heartbreak that his wife felt. It doesn’t matter if your on an island or in the Rocky’s!…please people throw a small supply of water, couple cans of soup, can opener, rope, Bic lighter, flashlight, flares, first aid a knife and of course emergency orange thermal blankets and at least 1 heavy jacket in a suitcase or backpack and throw it in the trunk or behind/under the seats. You can do it all for easily under $100.00. Take the time people to protect yourself and your loved ones.
As a husband and father this story gave me chills. On all accounts James is a hero.
I've been criticized by members of my family for not jumping in the car to drive 100s of miles during winter to go to a family reunion because it's not worth the risk. It infuriates me that people keep doing this over and over.
while i'm inclined to agree, as long as you stay on highways and well populated roads, driving in the winter shouldn't be something you should be afraid to do. going onto a remote mountain pass in the winter was just completely dumb
People who don’t live in a cold climate and routinely deal with snow have no idea how dangerous it is. I’ve literally got stuck in my own driveway.
Was just thinking this. I'm from Michigan but moved to Oregon, and like.. at least where I am, there's maybe 1 to 2 weeks of light snow. There are no plow trucks, even when there should be. It's crazy to me. Always make sure to have blankets and coats in the car, extra battery jumper, etc. It's scary when there's a white out.
@@WhoKilledLenny What is a white out ???
As soon as I heard about the rain, I knew how the story was gonna go. That's even worse than if there had been only snow.
Me too and I live where we don't routinely get a lot of snow but when we did my husband and I were stuck (at home unable to get out but at least we had a roof over us) and lost power for almost two weeks.
I walked a mile in a foot of snow to get to my place of work, on mostly level ground, and I thought THAT was difficult. What James managed to do is incredible.
At another time, I was walking on a frozen lake where there was kind of a tourist trail to safely walk on. I deviated from the trail a little bit, to see if I could take a shorter path that had not been leveled by peoples' feet. The snow got to above my knees and I was only able to go about 15-20 feet before I started to feel truly exhausted and had to turn around. I was in no actual danger and had nothing motivating me except curiosity, but I know how difficult snow can be.
The fact that professional hikers/searchers called James' trek "superhuman" shows exactly what a parent can do when it comes to their child(ren) surviving a situation that is inevitably fatal. People say women are superhuman when it comes to giving birth because of the extreme circumstances in some births, but it's not just mothers. Fathers are superhuman too.
Not just parents. Two little girls lifted a tractor off their father saving his life
Parents in general are superhuman as long as they genuinely love their children. The amount of strength and bravery a lot of parents show when it comes to protecting their children or saving them from dangerous situations prove that a parent's love is a superpower. This man went out like a hero. And I hope his wife reminds his children of that everyday.
@@michaelnizza414 thanks again I appreciate your response to my text and your thoughts are being sent you are always good for your day thank goodness I will have a great weekend thanks again and thanks you guys for being so good for us I know we will love to have your best best friends you have a blessed blessed life life thank us and your love of life love life life thank goodness I am sorry sorry about the time being there I was like nope you have a blessed night you don’t have to have to be a life you have a blessed blessed love life love blessed day love you all all the love and your love and blessed blessed family life life and love love and miss life thank love love thank love love talk thank goodness love and your life thank goodness thank goodness I have been trying my hardest to do that and yeah I’m good with it all good thank love thank goodness I am sorry to
@J A haha unheard of joke haha
It's called adrenaline
The decision to take the unknown road once back at the fork, rather than return to where he knew what to expect was a terrible one. Props to the guy for survivng so long, but his poor decision put them there
Fact. Unless you absolutely positively know with absolute certainty where the unknown road goes, go back the way you came.
Which is easy to say sitting warm and comfy, not as easy when freezing and scared in the wilderness
@@ArgentLeftovers he was in a warm car at that point. Never should have opted to go further into somewhere he didn't know
Ya especially in a car… if it was a ram 1500 hemi I’d possibly understand a little.. but car? Also why wait a week to find help and why go off the road to a creek? He made some extremely poor decisions in the end that cost his life.
This was heartbreaking. James did save his family. He’s a hero.
When dealing with remote roads and harsh conditions, ALWAYS follow your gut if you get a bad feeling about a road. Don't go around another bend. Go back the way you came and take the route you know.
Exactly never try to look for a new route if you don't know one you'll just end up getting lost. Always retrace your steps
Exactly. I know the original way back had its issues, but at least they knew what to expect. I knew it would be a bad outcome when they decided to keep moving forward on a different road they had never been on. I'm surprised they decided to choose the new road after experiencing what they did that required them to return to the fork in the road to begin with. I know they thought it was safer because the road was wider, but that should have raised some flags. Usually the "easiest" routes end up being the most treacherous.
This also applies to jogging and biking & all outdoor sports.
I'm a big advocate of turn back if you don't feel like you're where you should be. Ask for directions if there's no cell service.
Damn if only they had you there
James was an incredible man, husband, and father. His love for his family drove him to do the impossible all for the hope of saving them. I'm glad that at least in that regard he was successful. A true hero of a man.
Then again i think he should have stayed on the road. It would have been much larger chance helicopters, and such spot him as they spot his foot prints on the road. Its also in the woods even if he believed it would be shorter distance its so slow to walk compared to roads,and on road it much easier to keep your bearings. When i was just child i made mistake as i had to hike about 7km journey thinking i could short cut through forest, and such. Took me hours to wander around, and finally went back to road, and luckily my dad had gotten bad feeling and he was already looking for me. I would have though been home already on the road even on foot
James was an idiot
@@lalli8152 There was a blizzard he wouldn't have known where the road is
James was a complete freaking moron that was close to being responsible for the death of his entire family
James made the wrong turn and then chose to drive along bear camp road in essentially winter over a mountain in Oregon when he was from the area and knew better. So, yes, he deserves credit for his effort to fix the mistake but he made huge mistakes initially that should never have happened.
My dad couldn’t even afford to catch a 10 minute bus ride to me yall, I can’t fathom or even imagine the kinda love for his family this man effortlessly exuded. Especially for his daughters. ❤
I live in Oregon. We have tons of forest service, BLM, and logging complexes. Some are paved, some are gravel. They're mazes of roads and dead ends/flats going up and down mountains. Great places to camp and offroad, but you have to be prepared. I try not to go out alone as getting stuck or breaking down means you're literally stuck in the middle of nowhere. I actually had to hike down shotgun creek and hitch a ride back home once after getting stuck in the snow alone on a weekend. A CB radio is more useful than a cellphone in these places. They usually have a sign at the entrance with what channel the trucks use there. Even temporary setup like a magna-mount and a cheap radio wired to a cigarette lighter plug could save your life.
If I've learned anything from this channel, its that everyone needs wilderness training and always be over prepared for mountain weather.
and never go into caves
exactly
How is taht what u learned don't go in to a cave if u need shelter and it si heavy snowing u go in to a cave and wait or u get shelter if u need wilderness training to go in the woods I wouldn't go in teh woods if I were u it si comon since u don't need ttaing to go in the mountains or wood u just need conon secret
SO TRUE!!
Scence
James is the definition of a real man. He gave everything to save his family. His tracks saved his family. He was successful in his endeavor and that’s all that matters. RIP James. All good men aspire to be like you. If it takes our life, so be it.
Great comment❤️
Good family man, but I wish he would have waited longer before attempting it.
A masculine man is a man who would do anything for his family
@Robbie Unfortunately, if he left later, they might not have seen him or the footprints, which would mean his family wouldn't have been found. He already waited a week before heading off. Remember, the chopper finds his family only because they followed the footprints James made 2 days ago.
Dude was one of the most incapable adult males I've ever read about. Risked his family by driving up a random access road to avoid doubling back and taking the L. Backed up to the Y and decided, let's go further into the woods and risk my family again. Waited until they ran out of food to walk back. Didn't even walk back the way he drove in. Misread a map. Left a road to walk into the river while wearing street clothes. James was a walking representation of who not to be.
But if him risking his family and then killing himself trying to save them from his bad decisions makes him father of the year for you...bruh...you've set that bar REALLY LOW.
I’m so happy I came across your page, I love the way you tell stories and I love it even more because you tell different varieties of stories throughout history and I feel like with a lot of the stories you give a voice of the victims and people as well as things/events/occurrences that happen throughout history where IN THE NEWS there’d be no real voice or real story to be told!!! RESPECT
When I was about 19 me and my husband had left whidbey island WA and followed our friends down to Salem OR where we parted ways to head to Memphis TN...we missed a turn off the road out of Salem and ended up taking directions from someone that ended up with us out on a road much like Bear Camp Rd...thankfully it was in warmer weather but we were on that road all night...started out fairly wide and became a rutted road that knocked out exhaust pipe off...we stopped and my husband was able to fasten it up to the car...we came out the next morning around Bend OR...when I think back on that 40 years ago I realize how much danger we were actually in...we were in the Deschutes National Forest...I've never forgotten it and how quietly worried I was without even knowing it
If he was my history teacher I would actually pay attention in class.
Lol this will be the top comment
Chacker
Fun fact my teacher played one of his videos during lunch before history class! It was about history :D
Girl me too!!! :D
Same
If you have the option to either backtrack or take a new path you don't know to get somewhere. Never ever under any circumstances take the path you know nothing about. Go back the way you came because you have already proven that it is safe enough to traverse.
It’s hard to say that though; when backtracking would’ve only led him back to his car. And to the death of his entire family in his eyes.
You only have the warmth & energy reserves after days of no food? To make one Hail Mary trip
Only one.
And actually have a chance at surviving it. So, in James’ mind, there WAS no turning back.
Turning back wouldve spelt death for his family in his mind
There was only one real option inevitably for James
@@JonnyCraig33 Think they were talking about the first fork in the road in the story.
@@JonnyCraig33 no no no. You're talking about when he was walking. I'm talking about waaaaay before that when it started snowing in the first place and he backtracked to the fork in the road where he decided to take a road that wasn't on the map and he didn't know where it went. He was already concerned about the snow so he should've taken the path that he knew for certain led back to the highway instead of a random road he could only guess about.
@@mafiaseargent problem was the snow had increased and that road had already proven super dangerous.. such a sad story !! RIP James you're a hero
Thats the takeaway of this story
Another person, a older man died the same way on a similiar road east from there on the cascade mountain range, he took his camper and pickup truck down a logging highway as a short cut when he got 40 miles in, the forestry rangers locked the entrence to that highway for the winter with out checking the road. the man survived weeks in his camper in the snow banks untill he died and was found by snowmobilers. he was a few miles from someones lodge.
I live in Southern Oregon, and I love taking Bear Camp Rd from Galice, OR, to Gold Beach in the summer (never go on it in the winter). It is a beautiful drive,. 25 mph speed limit. It does take about 3 hrs., though.
I’m a history teacher, and I’m taking notes on your story telling abilities so I can help students see how fun history is.
That’s awesome!
e
@@MrBallen I agree with you
History
I never liked history back in my day. Would love to be your student now specially telling Mr Ballen's storys.
I hiked thirteen miles up and down two mountains with adequate gear, clothing and food in good warm weather. And at the end of it I was delirious by the time I reached camp and collapsed in the tent. James' trek was powered by pure heart and spirit. Rest in peace, James.
Thank you for adding this! A lot of people are commenting on the mistakes that he made that got them out there, but in my opinion, tracking that many miles in a blizzard on Cliffside‘s in mountains with no food, water or supplies is an outstanding feat, and although he did die, he still made sure his family was found safely and they lived. ❤ hell of a man
Tears ... PPL like James last hope for Humanity
Coming from a Canadian surrounded by thick snow as of right now, I swear most people don't know how powerful mountains and snow are. I wouldn't say they're dangerous, because they give you EVERY sign needed beforehand so as to NOT go there unprepared, they are powerful but their power is very much apparant. Mountains and snow are slow powers, nothing surprising in how they act. Someone who knows it will never try to shortcut through snowy mountainous roads that they don't know about. This was a suicide plan from the start. I've only ever used a mountain cliff winding road at night once and that was because it was summertime and this road is part of the transcanadian highway in somewhat remote British Columbia - it was absolutely the intended and official path to follow - and even THEN I wasn't fully confident and I was as focused as you could ever be. Don't be confident about mountains and snow, don't believe you can outpower them, they are stronger than anything. Always be prepared and know what you're going through if you must get through it, but it is always a hazard, even with 4x4 and good winter tires (obviously two things the people of this story definitely didn't possess anyway).
i drove from florida to washington state in four days in december 2016. i’ll never forget the dread i felt in my stomach at 1am in oregon, trying to turn off the main road think there would be a way around the bumper to bumper traffic going 10mph and nearly got my honda fit stuck in the snow. it took about an hour to get out of the national forest and when i got out of the car at the first gas station, i was hit with the full force of winds making the -16F temp feel so much colder and the snow was up to my ankle. i can’t imagine what i would have done if i had gotten stuck and this case makes my heart so heavy
That really made me tear up. As a father, James epitomized everything that a father should be. Even though he never reached his intended destination, he saved his family lives. A sacrifice any parent would make for their children. So powerful. RIP James
He got his family in a stupid situation and risked all of their lives. Spoiler alert: Lacking basic survival and landnav skills can kill you. It is nothing to play around with. Lesser idiots have died worse deaths. Number 1, don't go up dodgy roads and refuse to turn around when you have a chance. Lesson 2, always go back the way you came. Lesson 3, always carry a compass and always know where you're going. Lesson 4, when the rain freezes, that is not a sign that it is okay and do not sleep on it because you will live to regret it. Lesson 5, save your gas. Lesson 6, even if it takes a thousand years and half a mile and hour, plow the road by hand. Dig your way out. With your saved gas, you will make it out, but that is what they did before snowplows. I can tell you that anyone who has a harrowing adventure, such as this, WILL NOT allow oneself to see another. He would have been better off ripping off his bumper and using it to clear the road, but he was not a smart man and would have made a dog-shit engineer.
@@miastrong151 Jesus you are a horrendous human being, yikes...
@@zincs. No, I'm not.
@@zincs. God spared my life, asshole. I guess I have a purpose, here.
The sad part to me is imagining how he felt right before he collapsed. In his mind he was failing to save his wife and kids, but his body reached it's limit
This episode is the reason I stopped watching "I survived" its heartbreaking. There is an episode of Survivorman on youtube where Les Stroud does a very similar emergency situation and shows you how to survive.
The best advice is always go back the way you came, dont keep pressing on. No matter how many hours of a drive you have at least you know saftey is behind you.
Same thing with me, I realized pretty quickly on that this was the one episode of I survived
The problem with that was - the road back was now covered in snow and it was really narrow and dangerous to back. That's the reason they didn't.
@@cl1cka They had time to be careful
@@cl1cka its easy for me to speculate from the saftey of my warm living room but what I took from that episode of survivorman was dont wait until you lose all your energy sitting in a car. Backtrack the first day on foot if you have to, rip the car to pieces to pad your clothes and shoes to stay warm. It's a very interesting episode, that being said I would have for sure died in my car.
Also, never let your fuel tank get below half full in winter. Ever.
You are such an amazing storyteller. The amount of research you do definitely gives justice to the people whose stories your conveying.
This road, like many others in the area, are absolutely terrifying. I’ve had panic attacks and had to back up even when the weather was great. I can’t even imagine in the snow. I would just die. If not from falling off the cliff, then from just pure fear.
Even though James passed away in the end, the fact that his “super human” trek through such treacherous conditions ultimately saved his family’s life and was not in vain. To me that says everything you need to know about this man. His love, commitment. . He did what he had to do for his family and I’m sure he would have done it again. Ultimate sacrifice, Good man ! ❤️
Sorry but the trek he made didn't save any lives and only cost him his own. Yes it is admirable that he was willing to go to such lengths but in his condition with a lack of supplies, even a 4 mile straight line hike was going to be harder than you could calculate let alone what he would have to have actually achieved.
In Australia and, I am sure, in most countries around the world, any emergency service will advise you that should you become lost with no sense of where you are you should always remain with your vehicle. It provides you with shelter from the elements and is far easier to spot from the air during a search, as was demonstrated in the story.
His decision was NOBLE but ultimately incorrect.
My respects to this family's loss and my kudos to his bravery and it's a shame that better safety protocols for the road weren't observed.
@CecilMan Yes my friend that makes perfect sense to me
@@iamcecilman did you heard what mrballen said? the footprint that was made by james ultimately saved his family. if he didnt made the choice they could have died by hypothermia or hunger. killing the whole family. they barely have any resources to survive for 2 more days. and the helicopter probably wouldnt see the car as it was covered in snow. the only other choices is to make loud noises. like idk maybe explode something? but that would alert the bears so its also risky
@@iamcecilman except he knew exactly where he was. He could have walked the road out in that time and probably would still be alive. He is dead because he tried to Bushwack off the road without the proper skills.
@@Supernob222 the bears of Oregon are zero risk to humans. They are black bears, they have no interest in attacking humans and is extremely rare.
The hard lesson here is if you're lost, go back the way you came.
Facts.
Plus,nowadays you can see the roadways,the upcoming weather etc.Sad and heroic but....wtf were they thinking?
and what if you lose the way and get confused and continue going in the wrong direction? that happens very often yk.. you cant think rationally when youre going through so much stress and when youre on the verge of losing your life as well as your loved ones.
@@meenakshimurali1 well in this case, they knew the way back. But unfortunately chose not to take it at 1st fork, then at a 2nd fork chose to go further again instead of turn back.
So the point is, if you are faced with that choice, remember this story to learn from them, and go back to the highway if you know how, even if itll take hours.
Tje fact that ppl get irrational when stressed (their lives were not in danger when they made the decisions, but they were stressed) is exactly why we need to remember it as an adage "when in doubt return the way you came from civilization, if you know it".
@@14lishazz that's it.
They weren't thinking... They were reacting... Better to go the way you know.
@@juliaszybowicz7709 yea, I think it's natural for ppl to want to go forward too and hope it's going to be better, but this really drives home to go with what you know. So sad.
R.I.P James. Your courage and love is inspiring
🙏🙏❤️
The true meaning of a hero and a man that deeply loved his Family. He gave his life to try and save them with no regard for his own wellbeing . Such a sad story but also a testament to the power of love. RIP James, you earned it 100 times over.
Poor guy died thinking he was killing his family by dying. Heart-breaking.
He is just another Chinese guy who care
@@deroxanlit4181 are u being fr rn?
@@braydendowney5293 he is just a typical edgelord
Pure hero. Your kids will know what a strong man you were.
@@deroxanlit4181 Loser.
This was so depressing. I hope his kids know he’s a hero and saved their lives
Yes
😭😭😭
U gave away the ending jerk lol
@@storminthewoods Then dont read the comments first
@@TheRealLilPp I've learnt that lesson I never read the comments till I've watched it .
That’s a father any child could be proud of...
Rest In Peace sir
Let this be a lesson to STAY ON THE ROAD
No he was a dumbass and put their life’s on risk to save some time.
proud of my dad who died who abandoned me as a baby because he couldn't read a map and went walkabout through freezing rivers instead of staying on the actual road back to civilisation and that's after his stupidity put them in the situation . the guy is not a hero or somebody to be proud of. he risked his families life and then died . just thankfully his mistakes never cost them their lives too .
@@jimmyfaulkner5746, people are only reacting like that because there were kids involved, a purely emotional thing. A lot of comments are stating, "as a dad", "as a mom", "my kids this and that". He made a mistake after mistake after mistake. And the other videos, especially the one where his wife narrates, are painting an even worse picture of him.
Wow what an absolute roller coaster ride of a story. James is a legend.
I absolutely love listening to Mr Ballen tell stories. I could seriously listen to him for hours. You can tell he is super intelligent and also down to earth and relatable. Which is a rare combination. ❤
The most shocking part of this entire video to me is the fact that he covered 16 miles. 16 friggin miles?! Are you kidding me? In THAT environment? That dude was an absolute beast.
The love of a parent goes above and beyond when their children are in danger. Not knowing if his family would make it out alive had to be the worst feeling before he lost his life.
I couldn’t handle a 15 mile dirt bike ride as a teen in 80 degree perfect weather.
He had strong will power to save his family.
If you think your kids might die of starvation or hypothermia, then a father will literally perform superhuman feats to try to save them --- I bet Kim was doing stuff that special forces guys can't do in a wilderness situation
Sixteen miles on the AT in one day in the summer is brutal if you are not in good shape.
I generally don't let myself get too bothered by these stories, but now and then one moves me to tears. This is one of those. I can't imagine the fear and loneliness and hopelessness James must have been feeling over those 16 miles. And, god, how in the end he really did save his family. One of those tragic, bittersweet miracles.
He didn’t save anyone the helicopter pilot did.
@@freeeggs3811 if he hadn’t left the car, they might have never found his family, as it was his footprints that led the pilot to the car.
@@leahrebecca2051 And if it wasn’t for his stupidity they wouldn’t be in that situation in the first place.
@@freeeggs3811 Bro, chill.
@@Optitius ikr 🤣🤣
His "press the like button," monologues kill me 😂
I have watched so many of Mr.Ballen’s videos. Gosh, this was such a tragedy! The only video that has brought me to tears on this channel. I’m glad his wife and children survived. RIP James ❤
a brave, unselfish man, may he rest on peace.
Condolences to his family.
dont want to be an ass but… a better way to say it is “selfless man”, never heard of “unselfish” before tbh…
I don't want to be an ass but the guy is a fool. Everyone knows you wait with the vehicle.
@@bigsteve6729 try putting yourself in their shoes with the stress and terror, logically they wouldn't really think objectively.
@@anonymousejr Unselfish is a word. Look it up. 😉
@@evlynealeshire5850 oop my bad, unselfish is indeed a word just looked it up.
Dude.. I've never cried over a story like this before.. that last line about james just killed me.. just to think that he didnt know if they would ever be saved while he was dying..
oh im sure he knows
Same here, manly Dad tears of course.
I believe God may have reassured him that they would due to his selfless actions. Still very sad I agree.
@@ricknendepa6633 tears don't have to be gendered js
@@alexarias5717 Meant no offense to anyone. Just making fun of myself while having a little cry.😊✌️🏽