Heart wrenching images came from Oregon this week: families of missing climbers, appearing day after day, hoping for a miracle. “I know my son’s coming down today,” one climber’s mother said Dec. 16. “It’s my birthday. He wouldn’t miss my birthday.”

Whether veteran mountaineers lost on Mt. Hood’s summit, or wandering hikers lost off Old Speck trails, rescuers treat them with equal seriousness. But when hikers or climbers display ill – or nonexistent – preparedness, the rescue is most often avoidable.

Following a summer of repeated multi-day rescues in 2002, New Hampshire Fish and Game and the U.S. Forest Service (administrators of the White Mountain National Forest), partnered on a public education campaign preaching preparation for outdoor recreators.

Called HikeSafe, program literature tells hikers, “You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared,” and asks them to “have a safe, enjoyable outdoor experience and help reduce search and rescue efforts.” Lists of recommended hiking equipment and emergency telephone numbers are also printed.

“It was getting costly,” said New Hampshire Lt. Todd Bogardus, who helped start HikeSafe, about the continual searches. “We needed to come with something to knock down the number of rescues.” If deemed reckless, hikers are liable for a maximum of $10,000 for their rescue, a penalty levied in a small percentage of cases.

HikeSafe’s “Hiker Responsibility Code” also asks hikers to use their wits, leave a hiking plan behind, stay together, know limitations, and don’t simply expect a rescue. Fine print on the small Day-Glo cards, which are distributed at New Hampshire trailheads, also warns that “reckless” hiking carries a penalty.

“If you or anyone in your hiking group acts recklessly, resulting in a search and rescue, you could be liable to pay the costs of your search and rescue mission,” it states. Information is also available at www.hikesafe.com.

HikeSafe’s sensible preventative campaign has drawn the attention of wildlife agencies in other states, including Maine. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is working on bringing HikeSafe here, said Bogardus.

“I think we would benefit from replicating something similar here in Maine,” said Col. Tom Santaguida, Maine’s Chief Game Warden. “It’s a great proactive idea.” Maine holds hikers financially responsible for rescues as well, but collecting penalties from the handful of reckless hikers has been troublesome, Santaguida added.

As Maine’s woods and waters become more accessible to recreators, adopting a HikeSafe program would be wise. The small cards available in New Hampshire are packed with information, easy to imitate, and, as Bogardus said, “is starting to see success.”

It makes sense for Maine to prevent search and rescues whenever possible. Perhaps to avoid future tragedies similiar to Oregon’s, or quash poor practices, such as October’s misadventure by two hikers on Old Speck.

HikeSafe is a good first step.