Hiker rescued in Bethlehem avoided incurring costs because of voluntary 'Hike Safe' card
Officials say only a few cards utilized each year
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Updated: 8:50 PM EDT Jul 11, 2021
Officials say only a few cards utilized each year
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Updated: 8:50 PM EDT Jul 11, 2021
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SAVES YOU FROM BEING LIABLE FOR RESCUE COSTS. >> THE FIRST THING SHE SAID WHEN I ARRIVED WAS ’I HAVE THE HIKER INSURANCE AND IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MEANT, SHE HAD PURCHASED THE HIKE SAFE CARD. >> LIEUTENANT KNEELAND WAS THE FIRST CONSERVATION OFFICER TO REACH THE INJURED MASSACHUSETTS WOMAN ON MIDDLE SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN IN BETHLEHEM, SATURDAY AFTERNOON. HE ARRIVED AN HOUR AFTER HER CALL FOR HELP. >> SHE USED HER CELL PHONE THEN SOME GOOD SAMARITIN HIKERS STOPPED TO HELP HER. THEY ALSO CALLED AS WELL THEY ACTUALLY TRIED TO HELP HIKE HER DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. >> KNEELAND SAYS IT WAS SIMPLY TOO PAINFUL. SHE COULDN’T PUT ANY WEIGHT ON THE INJURED LEG. THIS RESCUE MISSION NEEDED A LITTER AND THREE TEAMS TO CARRY THE WOMAN 1.3 MILES TO THE TRAIL HEAD. >> ON THIS PARTICULAR RESCUE WE WOULD HAVE HAD 14/15 FOLKS FROM THE PEMI VALLEY SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM. ALONG WITH 3 CONSERVATION OFFICERS. SO WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE UP THERE. >> SO FAR THIS YEAR 7100 HIKE SAFE CDSAR HAVE BEEN SOLD THIS YEAR BUT LT. KNEELAND SAYS ONLY ONCE OR TWICE A SEASON DO EYTH ACTUALLY RESCUE A PERSON WHO HAS THE CARD. THE AGENCY BILLS FOR RESCUES THAT ARE CLEARLY THE RESULOFT CARELESSNESS. THAT HAPPENS ABOUT 10 TO 15 TIMES A SEAS.ON >> WHAT WE BILL FOR IS WHEN PEOPLE ACT NEGLIGENTLY AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT ORO G OUT IN WHETHER OR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY SHOULDN’T BE OUT IN. >> EXTREME WEATHER THIS YEAR HAS CAUGHT HIKERS OFF GUARD. A SUPER HOT SPRING AND NOW A VERY WET JULY, LT. KNEELAND URGES PREPAREDNESS, AND COMMON SENSE IF CONDITIONS ARE NOT GOOD. >> THAT MOUNTAIN IS NOT GOING YWANHERE. DO IT ON A BETTER WEATHER DA