MERLIN, Ore. -- James Kim died of exposure after hiking 16 miles over rugged terrain in a desperate quest to save his wife and two small children lost in the Oregon Wilderness, the state medical examiner concluded.

James Kim.

Kim was a senior editor for CNET.com. The family is from San Francisco.

The Kims had been missing since Nov. 25, when they left Portland headed home after a holiday trip to the Pacific Northwest to stay at a resort in Gold Beach and took a wrong turn. Kati Kim told rescuers her husband left about 7:45 a.m. Saturday in search of help and went the way they had come, saying he would return by 1 p.m. if he found none.

VIDEO: POLICE CONFIRM BODY FOUND

An autopsy of Kim's body by Dr. James Olson revealed that James Kim probably died of exposure and hypothermia two days after leaving his family to find help, and two days before searchers found his body.

Dr. Olson made an educated guess on Kim's survival timeline based on "the conditions and how much exertion he put on his body to get through treacherous conditions."

  America continues pouring grief, support online for Kim family

The body of James Kim was found in about 1-2 feet of water in the Big Windy Creek drainage lying on his back, fully clothed by searchers just after noon Wednesday, December 6th.

Officials said Kim covered 16 miles of rugged terrain and thought he may have been trying to hike to the town of Galice, but misjudged the distance.

Kim didn't know that near the family car, just a mile or so downhill at the end of a rugged jeep road, was a fishing lodge where he could have found shelter, warmth and enough food for months.

Kim’s parents-in-law described him as a hero on national television earlier this week when his wife, Kati, and their two young daughters were rescued near their stranded vehicle several days after he had set out to look for help in light clothes and tennis shoes.

  VIDEO: Kati Kim's parents call James Kim 'hero'

Hastings said Kim's last act before he left for help was to make a fire for his family.

Equally ambitious searchers, who poured their energy into locating the father of two, were essentially unable to catch up to Kim, according to Josephine County Undersheriff Brian Anderson.

“We were having difficulty in there... He traveled a long distance," Anderson said. It appeared Kim traveled about seven miles from his car. Rescuers pressed on, convinced he could still be alive.

  Emergency kits fly off shelves in wake of Kim saga

"They did what they thought was necessary to survive for several days," he added.

People from across the country, most of them total strangers to the Kim family, shared their heartfelt messages and prayers after the tragic death.

The Northwest seems to be trying to wrap its collective arms around the family, sharing in the horrible grief surrounding James Kim's death.

Sharron Beat of Stevenson, Wash. was one of the ever-growing number of people who wrote messages to the Kim family in a guest book created on kgw.com. "My heart goes out to you all. In time you will cherish the memories you have of such a wonderful man. I feel blessed to have known about such a good and kind man. I hope it helps that the whole county is sharing your loss," she said.

News of Kim’s death brought an outpouring of sympathy for his recently rescued family. People from across the country have offered condolence to the family via the Web, where Kim was known for his podcasts on CNET, a technology news Web site.

AP photo

Kati Kim, right, talks to rescue personnel Monday after she and her two daughters were rescued in the mountains of southwest Oregon about 35 miles west of Grants Pass, Ore.

One comment posted on kgw.com reads, “My heart goes out to the Kim family. James was a brave man trying to keep his wife and children safe. He was a hero.”

Honoring James: Share your thoughts & messages about Kim death

Kim's body was spotted by a helicopter pilot Wednesday and found in the Big Windy Creek ravine just minutes after noon, less than a mile from the family car and about a half-mile from the Rogue River. The body was lifted out by helicopter.

MAP: Area where body was found

  VIDEO: Where Kim hiked, where he was found

The news of Kim's death brought an end to a massive search effort. The search took on an almost personal crusade for many involved, according to police.

Reporter blog: An emotional story to cover

"I'm crushed," Anderson said of the discovery. Overcome with emotion, Anderson walked away from the microphones Wednesday just seconds into a news conference announcing the find.

AP photo

Lt. Gregg Hastings of the Oregon State Police holds a bag of survival gear intended for James Kim.

Lt. Gregg Hastings with the Oregon State Police thanked the Kim family and all search crews for their support.

A statement released by a friend of the Kim family reads: "The friends and community of the Kim family are deeply saddened by the news... We want to send out our utmost thanks to the search and rescue teams who risked their lives in the efforts to bring James back to us, they are true heroes to risk their own lives for a stranger... Please continue to keep Kati, Penelope, Sabine and the rest of their family in your thoughts."

  Kim family Web site, statement

Searchers estimated Kim had hiked about five miles down the drainage in terrain that's been described as some of the most difficult in the world.

Earlier, searchers found several items of clothing they believe were left by Kim as clues for rescuers. According to Hastings, searchers found two gray long-sleeved shirts, a red short-sleeved shirt, a wool sock, a blue skirt and an Oregon state map cut into pieces.

Dense fog Wednesday morning delayed the start of the day's search until 10 a.m. Authorities dropped supply kits into an area where they believed he was stranded, hoping the food, supplies, and a heartfelt letter from his family would keep Kim alive until he was found.

The letter was placed inside all 18 care packages dropped into an area searchers zeroed-in on after finding some of Kim's belongings as well as two "hot spots" where clues suggested Kim may have hunkered down sometime over the past four days.

Fresh searchers also joined the teams out in the snowy backcountry Wednesday morning, some lowered by helicopters into the steep canyon where Kim's pants were found the day before. His wife said that Kim was wearing the gray pants over jeans when he left the car on Saturday to get help.

On Monday, searchers in a helicopter hired by the family spotted Kati Kim, 30, and daughters Penelope, 4, and Sabine, 7 months. They were airlifted to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass where Sabine was admitted. She was released on Tuesday. All three were described in good condition.

The family ran the car heater as long as they could, then burned tires for warmth. Kati Kim also breastfed the children, with only baby food and few other supplies on hand.

  Snow-covered back country road trapped Kim family

  VIDEO: Helicopter hired by family locates mom, kids

AP Photo

Josephine County Sheriff's office Sgt. Joel Heller speaks with members of a search and rescue team headed down Bear Camp Road in the Siskyou National Forest near Galice, Ore.

About 100 rescue workers and four helicopters searched for Kim daily, following his footprints and the clues down the Big Windy Creek drainage.

Some worried that the personal belongings left by Kim could possibly be a sign that he was suffering from severe hypothermia.

Anderson said Kim was wearing tennis shoes, pants and a heavy coat, but no hat.

Honoring James: Timeline in the case

  Kim's ordeal reminscent of Ashland family's wilderness saga