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Show ” Trail carelessness is costly By GENE JOHNSON MOUNT WASHINGTON NH Volunteer rescuers in between what ‘those the White Mountains say they'd risk their lives any dayto save idiots’ have done a hiker in trouble Some state officials, howev er, wish those volunteers didn't have to risk their lives to save careless hikers who shouldn't and ‘vhat we’ve done in the past and do on a regularbasis.” have gotten into trouble in the first place Charles Townsend member of New Hampshire's volunteer Mountain Rescue Service The issue has long concerned authorities in the White Mountains, which drawabout 7 million visitors a year, And despite a New Hampshire law Uncle Sam's part letting the state charge negli went hikers, the issue hasn't yon away problem is far The law lets authorities file year tw boater injured vent hikers or sue them for damages. But proving negli n be difficult. Hence rescue capsized tranded hikers and campers, but doesn't seck reimbursement, even from people Lt. Eric Stohl of the state fish and Game Department own risk-taking whost That concern hasn't stopped Morgan, then 30 and from Atlanta, was convicted of reck less conduct, a misdemeanor. and fined $500. some states from considering it. In Michigan, where at least 95 ice fishermen were pulled from lakes in one area alone this winter, lawmakers are con- Paying theprice Kish and Game Is considering policy changes to make it easier for the state to recoup. some of its costs, while discour ug hikers from endangering the mael es heedlessly, accord ing to Fish and Game Maj. Ron Alice, Alie says it is too soon to discuss det Some hikers agree charging reckless hikers for rescuing them isn't a bad idea sidering bill that would warn rock le fishermen the first time they have to be reseued, fine then S500 the second time, and make them pay for the res eure as well as a 31.000 fine the third time. In Idaho and Montana, county sheriffs strain their budgets every year to help hikers ¢ d snowmobilers who ignore dan- gerous conditions “It would keep the stupid Cell phonepros and cons said Paige McDougall, 27, of Madbury, after climbing Mount Washington recently. The debate over charging hikers always intensifi after a dramatic rescue. In January, 1982. two young but experi- enced ice-climbers: from Pennsylvania, Jeffrey Batzer, then 20, and Hugh Herr, then 17, tried to climbanicygully as a snowstorm brewed on Mount Washington The result: They were stranded for four days in 100 Chris Thayer, the Applachian Mountain Club's search and rescue coordinator for Mount Washington, says the problem is becoming more prevalent as more hikers ¢ Urry cellular phones into the | country. Hikers often become overconfident if they know they cuer Albert Dow lost his life in an avalanche \ cry arosefor the hikers to be held onsible. But nd, a member of Now Hampshire's volunteer Mountain Rescue Service who knew Dow, says volunteers lobbied strongly against any legislation that would restrict or punish outdoor enthusi asts We realize foolishness soon cleared The weather up. and he called back to say he no longer necded help. The next day, he called ain, He: still wasn't out of the mountains, but he wis out of food and he wanted to be rescued Exasperated officials are still considering whether to charge Gauthier, and the case renewed interest in’ tagging foolhardy PESCLE Co: outdoorsmen with G 1 its a very fine line between what ‘those idiots’ have donc and what we've done in the past and do on basis.” Townsend said MW for us to assign degrees of Education Rob Burbank, spokesman for the Appalachian Mountain nized that hiking and outdoor Club, which operates huts and shelters in the White Mountains, said the club tries: to avoid the needforrescues by advising hikers about weather and trail conditions, holding outdoor survival workshops, and selling last-minute gear a its Pinkham Notch camp at the base of Mount Washington. Such an approach might appeal to state authorities According to the chief ranger at Denali National Park Alaska, it’s worked there. in Ve really emphasize pre ventive education,” Ken Kehrer said, “We spend probably 20 to 80 minutes with every group that goes into the backcountry, going over river-crossing and how to travel in this type of country” crutches to someone twisted an ankle. But ue ( M cost’ Fish oSS.0000 and othe far more. The N Hn Guard Me in 1 Blick the New k Uh icopter when hire National a model 1 wits about the White Mountains and educating them would be daunting, Thayer said with so many hikers and such extreme and rapid weather changes, there is bound to be trouble. Dating to last century, 126 people have died on 6,288-foot Mount Washington, which is about one-fifth the size of Mount Everest Josh Burt, 27, of Hudson, said if hikers knew they c be charged for their re they might be less likely to push the limit in dangerous conditions. Burt said he climbs: Mount Washington once a month and hefrequently inexperienced hikers in areas Sonoma Mountain Pack Station Pack-in Marchof 1992 in Lehi, Utah W Wayne worked at a western shop, where for quality pack equipment that was d crations. Wayne started working wit and what they wanted in the Wayne and his wife, Jor that sed wear was not just for the mountains anymore; people were wearing it as fashion On the news, he noticed the growing power of the Web and read stories about the pio: neers of electronic commerce. Despite what industry ana lysts said, Smith and his friends were convinced that this would be the next major trend in Web development and that the clothing sale of outdoor a market that had not yet been tapped. He took these two observations to: his entrepreneurial brother and friends who owned cloth: Ing stores, and GearPro.com was born GearPro.com was the first Rocky s 5 ever online store of its kind, global market Anyonefrom the seasoned mountaineerto a novice back yard hikerneed only log on to GearPro.com to order a extensive array of equipment such as backpacks, boating and car racks, clothclimbing xe ing and footwear, com cookware and stoves, m! kits, pet . sleeping bags, tents, travel accessories and rate annually since the first quarter of 1996, havean email list that is 12,000 strong andhavejust been chosento be among thefirst to offer items for bidding at Amazon.comAuctions. Withover 4,000 products to choosefrom andexpert advice availableonall of them, GearPro.com is ensuring that visitors to their site have a complete online shopping experience. instructional videos. The site also includes information about fabrics, fit guides and ia on how to pick your ar and features an interac: heraldextra advice column as well Three ye after its incep: varPro.com is experi- encing steady success, espe cially up against competitors such as R iL. They have enjoyed a 2 00 percent growth MARINE D eaZSS RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS 1305 N 1200 W, Orem Tracker 18’ Pontoon 40 HP Mercury, #10380 $12,230 or ; Tracker 16° Bass Boat 90 HP Mercury, #02376 $13,090 or Tracker Targa 17° Combo 115 hp Mercury, #06192 $16,170 or tin Thi Thin 225-3844 Lund 16' RebelSS 25 HP Mercury, #H1535 $8,127 or Lund 1700 Pro Sport 75 HP Mercury, #AB594 $15,991 or Lund 2100fisherman 150 EFI Mercury #NO072 $24,843 or 109, Mth 30h Come Check Out The eeeld] upset they should avoid “I think it would teach peo- ple to be responsible. There's no i net when you're up “hesaid. Insurance A program used in Colorado might be a good one for New Hampshire to emulate, Burt said. For $1, Colorado hikers, rafters and mountain bikers can buy insurance that guaran tees if they haveto be rescued, the state will foot thebill, But Maury McKinney, a vet- eran climber with the Mountain Rescue Service, is not sure insurance or legisla- tion is the answer. Often, he said, people who are rescued donate money to the New Hampshire Outdoors Council, a group that provides equipment to volunteerrescuers. For McKinney, it’s an issue of sense Bad weather twice forced him to abort common Himalayan excursions, and he said people should be just as cautious in the moreaccessible White Mountains. “We're never going to say You don't belong there, McKinney said Sonoma Mountain Pack delivers quality and satisfaction pack equipment around on campus andrecog who had receive millions more visitors Such may have been the case with Rejean Gauthier, 47, a Canadian rescued near Mount nhower in January. He I forged inte a blinding snow storm and lost the trail then of 28 belowzero without food or knee to frostbite; volunteer res technical outdoor gear to the can call for help, he said mph winds and temperatures dialed 911 water, Hach lost.a leg below the offering a catalog retailing undergraduate at University of Alabama in 1996, he looked puts them in danger The Coast As a result, Denali park Guard and the National Park rangers during last ye: 110: Service say char} w for res day season conducted just 15 cues might discour «people rescue missions — most of from seeking: help them minor, such as carrying recalls only one instance of a hiker being charged forhis res: cues a man who was drunk on Mount Moriah in 1988. Jeffrey people off the mountain,” from Phe federal government spends more than $383 million criminal charges against negli NAPERVILLE, IL Casey Smith pays attention, As an $1,400 an hour, Alie said “We realize it’s a very fine line Assucnted Press Writer GearPro.comoffers outdoor gear to the world Mountain the time. isked ast for gen: \ t how cars later ine of quality all February 14.1997, the business wa Sonoma Mountain Pack Station, owned by the Westmoreland | who are froma ttle ranch in Nevada ani ate q equipment. The tore was moved from Lehi t here the tradition of quality pack equipment is carried on with Shane Westmoreland as the ie General Manager, and the continuing help of Wayne and dc SonomaMtn. Pack manufactures t nd decker packsaddies, and has earned its reputa tion by listening to and following the he world’s most skilled and reputable outfitters and packers. 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