Hiking is a great form of exercise, and a fun, adrenaline-pumping experience that you can enjoy for free; however, there are instances where it can quickly turn into an expensive nightmare. With the cost of employing 20 to 30 searchers, and one or two helicopters at $10,000 a day—the price to be rescued by a search and rescue team can be steep. Luckily this can be avoided if you properly prepare in advance for unplanned hiking accidents.
One family of four experienced this unfortunate instance after an ill-planned hike left them stuck in the dark and with a hefty bill from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department after they were rescued from Percy Peaks Trail over Columbus Day weekend according to WMUR. Aware of the rainy weather, the family left the trailhead at 3 p.m. hoping to complete the hike by nightfall. After the sun went down , they used their cellphones to light the trail before calling for help due to the darkness. The Massachusetts family didn’t have a Hikesafe Card—a $35 card issued by the department to cover rescue costs for any outdoor activity, even if the cause of the need for rescue is negligence (New Hampshire hunting and fishing licenses provide the same coverage).
A law passed in 2015 authorizes the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to sell a voluntary hike safe card for $25 per person and $35 per family. People who purchase the cards will not be liable to repay rescue costs if they need to be rescued due to negligence on their part, regardless if they are hiking, rock climbing, or engaging in any other outdoor activity.
This isn’t the first time a group of hikers/hiker has been billed by rescue officials. A Michigan man who had to be rescued from the White Mountains in 2012 after dislocating his replacement hip got slapped with a $9,200 bill, upheld by the State Supreme Court after they learned of the man’s plans, following four hip surgeries, to complete a five-day hike to elevations 5,000 ft. above sea level.
Case in point, if you’re planning an ambitious hike of your own, plan realistically and avoid being out after the sun sets, in bad weather, and on trails that don’t match your skill, health or fitness levels.
You can also look into whether the state you’re hiking in has programs similar to the Hikesafe Card. If you are having difficulty finding out whether the state you live in offers such a program there are several other options available for rescue insurance in the United States including:
- SPOT satellite text messenger (a 2008 Editor’s Choice product) comes with an insurance plan for $100,000 worth of search and evacuation insurance for only $9/year with purchase of the beacon ($160) and an annual subscription ($100). The service is contracted through a private global rescue company called GEOS Alliance. Alternately, you can purchase their stand-alone worldwide SAR insurance with he same $100,000 benefit for as little as $150/year.
- An American Alpine Club membership automatically qualifies you for $5,000 worth of search, rescue, and evacuation insurance while hiking or climbing mountains of any height, which is usually ample enough coverage for the average hiker. Memberships are $80 a year for most hikers (seniors receive a discount). You can also purchase increased insurance from the AAC’s insurance provider, Global Rescue Inc., a worldwide rescue and security company with 24/7 service. Plans include short-term, high-coverage policies for dangerous, worldwide expeditions.
In the event that something unplanned does happen, it could save you a lot of money.
