Merlin, Ore. ? A San Francisco man was found dead in a mountain creek Wednesday, four days after he set out through the snowy wilderness to seek help for his wife and young daughters, stranded in a car.

A search helicopter spotted James Kim’s body about a mile from where he set out in Oregon’s snowy Klamath Mountains, two days after his wife and two daughters were rescued from the vehicle, stuck on a remote road. Investigators believe he traveled about eight miles in total, and said there was no way he could have reached the car directly from where he was found.

Kim’s body was found at the foot of the Big Windy Creek drainage, a half-mile from the Rogue River, where ground crews and helicopters had been searching for days.

A tearful Undersheriff Brian Anderson announced the discovery of the body, his voice breaking at one point.

“He was very motivated,” Anderson said. “We were having trouble in there. He traveled a long distance.”

He said he had few details about Kim’s condition or the immediate area where he was found.

On Tuesday, searchers were heartened to find first a pair of pants Kim had be wearing over his jeans, then farther down the creek some other wet clothing – two shirts, a cap, a sock and a girl’s skirt. A searcher had to be lowered from a helicopter to gather them up.

“They were laid out in a well defined area, in a pattern,” state police Lt. Gregg Hastings said. The pattern led officers to hope that “little signs are being left by James.” They had planned to drop rescue packages with clothing, emergency gear and provisions.

Officials announce that the body of James Kim, a missing San Francisco man, has been found, near Merlin, Ore. Josephine County Undersheriff Brian Anderson is second from right, and Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings is at right. Kim's body was discovered Wednesday in Oregon's snowy Klamath Mountains.

But an expert on hypothermia said the clothing was a bad sign: victims of cold often feel a false sense of warmth and shed their clothes.

James Kim wrote reviews about digital music and audio devices for CNET Networks Inc.’s Web site and on a blog. He also appeared on the company’s video segments and on television. His wife, Kati Kim, ran a pair of boutiques the couple owned.

Kati Kim, 30, and their daughters Penelope, 4, and Sabine, 7 months, were rescued Monday at their car. She told officers that the couple made a wrong turn and became stuck in the snow nearly two weeks before. They used their car heater until they ran out of gas, then burned tires to stay warm and attract attention. With only a few jars of baby food and limited supplies, Kati Kim nursed her children.

The key to finding them, police said, was a “ping” from one of the family’s cell phones that helped narrow down their location.

Roads in the area are often not plowed in the winter and can become impassable.

When they were rescued, Kim’s family told authorities that he struck out on Saturday to find help, wearing tennis shoes, pants and a heavy coat, but no hat. His family said he had some outdoor experience, and authorities said he was carrying two lighters.

He had a specific plan: He would leave early Saturday morning, go back the way the family came, and if he couldn’t find anyone, he would return in a few hours. Just before 8 a.m. Saturday, his family said, he left to carry it out.