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Safety is a top priority on our 12th Annual Summit Mt. Washington.

You may have heard news stories about a number of hikers in the last year who got into serious trouble, including fatalities, hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. To help hikers be more prepared, the State of New Hampshire has created a HikeSafe program.

The website, HikeSafe, contains information and quizzes to educate hikers about situations they might face hiking in the Whites.

In addition, the website offers a HikeSafe card. The card costs $25 per person or $35 per family, and the revenue from the program helps fund Search and Rescue efforts.

According to the State, “the card is valuable for anyone hiking, paddling, cross country skiing or engaging in other outdoor recreation. People who obtain the cards are not liable to repay rescue costs if they need to be rescued.”

So in a way, the card is like insurance. Search and Rescue tabs can run $10,000-50,000, and the State can pass those costs to the hiker if the hiker was deemed to be recklessly unprepared. Possession of the HikeSafe card is one way to show preparedness.

For our Mt. Washington hike, we will not be checking for the cards, and we will have hike leaders and guides to assist along the route. Nonetheless, each person is ultimately responsible for their own safety. We share this information and particularly encourage any new or first-time hikers – or hikers new to the Whites – to check it out.

12th Annual Mt. Washington Summit Co-Coordinators

Staci’s cell – (978) 930-9943  Email – staci.formaggia@hikeformentalhealth.org

Dana’s cell – (267) 254-9490  Email – dmkedz@gmail.com

Suzanne’s cell – (603) 305-5773  Email – ihikewithpug@gmail.com

HIKE for Mental Health

Hikes that bring hope.

www.hikeformentalhealth.org