hikeSafe- A General Warning

[Andrew]

A great press release from Todd and Rebecca- for viewers who may be less experienced

Moderators- I don't think this would be copyrighted, just essential info, but please delete if you feel different.



News from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
February 14, 2008
Phone: (603) 271-3211
Email: [email protected]
For information and online licenses, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us <http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/>

* * * * * * *

CONTACT:
Lt. Todd Bogardus, NHFG, (603) 271-3361
Rebecca Oreskes,WMNF, 603) 528-8721
February 14, 2008


ENJOY THE WINTER OUTDOORS, BUT "hikeSafe"

CONCORD, N.H. -- With school winter vacation weeks about to begin and New Hampshire's mountains enjoying a very snowy winter, outdoor authorities are advising the Granite State's backcountry visitors to "hikeSafe."

"New Hampshire's woods and mountains are a great place for winter recreation. Whether snowshoeing, backcountry skiing or ice-climbing, there are many fantastic opportunities here," says New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officer Lieutenant Todd Bogardus. "But the nature of the winter environment is that it can be a dangerous place. Cold temperatures, deep snow cover and, especially above treeline, sometimes fierce winds, mean that hikers and others need to take special precautions to enjoy their adventures safely."

Recent tragic incidents in the White Mountains, including a hiker death by hypothermia and a climber's death in an avalanche, underscore the seriousness of Bogardus's message and highlight the principles of "hikeSafe," a joint initiative of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the White Mountain National Forest to promote safe and responsible hiking.

Rebecca Oreskes of the White Mountain National Forest says that the hikeSafe "Hiker Responsibility Code" sums up the basic tenets of backcountry safety. "Winter hiking has great rewards, but also comes with innate challenges and dangers. Being aware of and following the Hiker Responsibility Code are important first steps toward an enjoyable and safe journey."

There are six tenets of the code. You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared:
1) With the appropriate knowledge and gear;
2) Leave your plans with someone else;
3) Hiking groups should stick together, and not let themselves become separated;
4) Hikers should always be ready to turn back if circumstances, such as changing weather, dictate;
5) Hikers should be ready for emergencies, and, ideally, be set to effect "self rescue;" and
6) Those who know the code should share its lessons with others.

Bogardus notes that the Hiker Responsibility Code applies year-round, but there are special considerations for winter hiking. "Winter weather can be extreme, especially on the highest summits of the White Mountains, so anyone venturing to those areas absolutely must be prepared for bitter cold, strong winds and poor visibility - and must be ready to turn back if conditions become too difficult. Plus, the mix of weather we've received so far this season means that deep snows can be found in the forests, requiring snowshoes, yet in some places, icy slopes mean that special gear such as ice axes and crampons may be needed." According to Bogardus, it is often difficult to locate trails under deep snow cover, and "breaking trail" through that snow can require a great deal of extra effort.

Some locations have added hazards. "The Forest Service Snow Rangers on Mount Washington have noted a lot of avalanche activity this winter," adds Oreskes, "and similar hazards can be found in other areas, especially those with steep, open slopes. All backcountry visitors should be aware of avalanches and the special training and equipment needed for anyone who is traveling in potential avalanche terrain."

"In spite of the recent tragedies, most winter visitors to our state's forests and mountains have great experiences," says Bogardus, "and there's a better chance of having a happy ending if hikers follow the hikeSafe principles."

For more information about the hikeSafe program, visit http://www.hikesafe.com <http://www.hikesafe.com/>

For safety alerts and more information on the White Mountain National Forest, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain.

The New Hampshire Outdoor Council is a major supporter of hikeSafe and search and rescue efforts throughout the state. Visit http://www.hikesafe.com/index.php/nh_outdoor_council.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to conserve, manage and protect the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats; inform and educate the public about these resources; and provide the public with opportunities to use and appreciate them. Visit http://www.WildNH.com <http://www.wildnh.com/> .

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[bcskier]

Moderators- I don't think this would be copyrighted, just essential info, but please delete if you feel different.

Thanks for the info. I'll bookmark the hikeSafe website and create a link to our h.s. outing club web page.

Just curious, but can any info produced by a publicly funded entity, state or federal, ever be copyrighted? I have always thought that, because of who pays for the info, such things would always be public domain.

Moderators- I don't think this would be off-topic, just a tangential sidebar, but please delete if you feel different

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Works produced for or by the Federal Government are in the public domain for sure. This does not specifically trickle down to the state level.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_of_the_United_States_Government

The content reproduced above is more of a public service message that would serve no purpose other than to be widely and freely distributed. That is the nature of a press release.

Tim
"I am not a lawyer"

 

[sapblatt]

Works produced for or by the Federal Government are in the public domain for sure. This does not specifically trickle down to the state level.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_of_the_United_States_Government

The content reproduced above is more of a public service message that would serve no purpose other than to be widely and freely distributed. That is the nature of a press release.

Tim
"I am not a lawyer"

That is all basically correct - particularly with stuff that is from the GPO (government printing office) - one small warning - don't rely on Wikipedia!! Anyone can post stuff there and it can get you in trouble.

I am not a lawyer, but I am a law librarian...(those who can't do - point you to where the books are)

 

[dr_wu002]

one small warning - don't rely on Wikipedia!! Anyone can post stuff there and it can get you in trouble.

While an extended discussion is probably inappropriate for both this thread and likely the entire site, I have to say that I fundamentally disagree with this. I wouldn't take Wikipedia as gospel (nothing is, in my opinion -- always check your facts), I would challenge you to show me a better, more comprehensive resource available both on or off the web. You will find none.

The folks at Wikipedia have worked hard to prevent vandalism, ensure the factual content of entries, and to maintain a constantly high standard of writing. It is large system so therefore it will always have flaws but to discredit it without evidence strikes me both as intellectually dishonest and old fashioned. Traditional print encyclopedias were written in a similar fashion and subject to the same problems with occasionally bad writing and inaccuracies. Today however, encyclopedias appear quaint, limited and laughably cumbersome by comparison: they can no longer compete with the breath, flexibility and up-to-date-ness of the new internet giant that is Wikipedia. Plus, if you notice a mistake in Wikipedia, report it! Or change it yourself. But to do so with traditional encyclopedias is and was a herculean task.

Again, it would be unwise to assume that whatever you read in Wikipedia (or anywhere) is hard, steadfast and automatic fact. But to dismiss it simply because it is not is a logical fallacy.

-Dr. Wu

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Not only that, but they explicitly list the copyright for all media and any time it is from a govt agency (NASA, etc.) they have the public domain message right there.


From http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html:

Works by the U. S. government are not eligible for U. S. copyright protection.

Tim

 

[sapblatt]

Wow - write a sentence, take a nap and get your head handed to you.

I do use Wikipedia, and I use it daily - I think it is a great resource and I love it, especially for getting some quick info, a list of sources for further study or to check a quick fact. All I am trying to say is that I would not use it as a legal basis for saying whether or not anything is copyright protected or not.

In fact, I would not even use the US Code - I would ask a lawyer who understands copyright law.

Even the first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry states "Many publications of the U.S. government do, however, contain protectable works authored by others (e.g., patent applications, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, public comments on regulations, etc.), and this rule does not necessarily apply to the creative content of those works."

The second paragraph further expands upon this...

I am not as much questioning Wikipedia - which Frank, I agree is more comprehensive, has greater breadth and is much more to up to date than many tradtional print sources (I beleive Brittanica is published every 5 years in print - a bit behind I would say) - I am questioning using it to give myself clearance on an issue such as copyright law.

I think it is unfortunate that to date it is not more respected my more people, as it has become a great resource for a lot of people - I doubt for instance anyone is citing Wikipedia for a research source when writing for a professional journal, and everything I have read points to the fact that most schools and colleges do not allow it as a resource for students works. I do not agree with this at all - but, times change slowly.

Back to your regularly scheduled hiking discussion.