Hike Safe :: It's your responsibility

My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.

Aldous Huxley

NH & the White Mountains
- Seasonal Challenges
- Wildlife Fact & Fiction
- Terrain
- Search & Rescue Costs
- NH Liability Statutes

In New Hampshire, hikers who negligently cause themselves to become lost or injured - resulting in costly and dangerous rescues - may be billed for those rescue services.

The State of New Hampshire and U.S. Forest Service spend more than $260,000 annually on rescues.
Search and rescue of hikers in the White Mountains averages in the thousands per rescue.
Proper equipment for a winter hike or rescue mission costs as much as $4,000 per person.
Thousands of hours and personal equipment are provided by volunteers.

The cost goes beyond the dollars and cents. Search and rescue involves professionals, such as New Hampshire Fish & Game and White Mountain National Forest personnel, as well as other organizations and volunteers. Organizations who assist New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and U.S. Forest Service include:

Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue
Appalachian Mountain Club
Mount Washington Observatory
Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol
Mountain Rescue Service
New England K9 Search and Rescue
New Hampshire Army National Guard
New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation
New Hampshire Outdoor Council
Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team
Randolph Mountain Club
Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO)
Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team
Local fire departments

These individuals put themselves at personal risk, sometimes in order to find a hiker who has behaved negligently.

As an example of personal sacrifice, in 1982, volunteer Albert Dow, an experienced climber, lost his life in an avalanche while searching for overdue hikers.

Remember, if you don't follow the Hiker Responsibility Code, you risk your own life and the lives of those with you - and you also put at risk the lives of those who would attempt to help you. You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared.

Also be aware that if you are hiking with your dog and your dog is injured, you are responsible for finding assistance to get the dog out.

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