New Signs on Bear Camp Road
New signs go up on Bear Camp Road where a California family went missing two years ago. The Kim family was driving from Portland to Gold Beach and veered off Bear Camp Road where they got stuck in the snow.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management made several improvements they say clearly show the certain roads are closed to keep people on the main route.
"I've been at that intersection, looks better to the right but the road to the coast veers to the left you're going to take the road that looks more traveled," said Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson.
Kati Kim and her two daughters survived, but James Kim had died when he ventured off to get help.
Since then the Bureau of Land Management has completed a series of improvements to what's now known as Bear Camp Coastal Route, to make the road easier to travel.
They've put up markers along the way, and two kiosks.
"The kiosks have maps where you want to go, it also has info on where your traveling and what you need to take, weather conditions, and just general safety precautions," said Jim Whittington, a Medford BLM public affairs officer.
Closed gates and marked roads they hope will make it easier to see which way is the right way.
"We hope we've done enough to make sure we don't have a situation like this happen again," said Whittington.
Since the search, the Josephine County Sheriffs office has also progressed. It's improved it's communication with other agencies, and improved it's ability to track cell phones. But hope people will avoid the road all together.
"It's the wintertime, it's not a bypass road to the coast, it's not plowed, and we're not looking for people on a daily basis who venture up there," Gilbertson said.
BLM says it locks the gates every November after the hunting season ends and will send crews up here to make sure they gates remain locked through the winter months.
Sheriff Gilbertson says anyone who drives through the area should purchase a personal locator from a sporting goods store.
When its used, it will send a satellite signal showing authorities where you are.
They say to also keep a cell phone charger in your car, even when reception is spotty, they can often pinpoint your location.
