Rescued hiker says he owes NH Fish and Game his life — and the cost of his rescue

[KRooney]

https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-0...ew-hampshire-fish-and-game-franconia-blizzard

"...Zienkiewicz had never before hiked in the winter when he and a friend, Louis Scotti, embarked on a nine-mile hike along the Franconia Ridge early Saturday morning. They reached the summit but couldn’t find their way down because blizzard-like conditions had obscured the trail."

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-0...ew-hampshire-fish-and-game-franconia-blizzard

"...Zienkiewicz had never before hiked in the winter when he and a friend, Louis Scotti, embarked on a nine-mile hike along the Franconia Ridge early Saturday morning. They reached the summit but couldn’t find their way down because blizzard-like conditions had obscured the trail."

The report on the NHF&G site says that they were found near Eagle Pass on the Greenleaf Trail after they missed the turn for the Bridle Path at Greenleaf hut (aka da Flea), which means they were within a half mile of the Franconia Bike Path / Snowmo Trail after nearly completing the entire Franconia loop counterclockwise. So close, but yet so far.

 

[dug]

The report on the NHF&G site says that they were found near Eagle Pass on the Greenleaf Trail after they missed the turn for the Bridle Path at Greenleaf hut (aka da Flea), which means they were within a half mile of the Franconia Bike Path / Snowmo Trail after nearly completing the entire Franconia loop counterclockwise. So close, but yet so far.

Likely true. Of course, good chance they spent the last several hours going "5 more minutes and just a little further and we are out". Eventually, if you keep going, you'll be right.....

I was convinced I missed a trail turn with two novices. Spent about 30 minutes mumbling how I was going to tell them we were coming out miles from where we intended. I finally said so, and that at this point we may as well just plow forward than backtracking. Five minutes later we came to the trailhead. They said "next time wait before you say that and scare us!" I replied "Ha, I actually did wait and finally felt I had to say something..." Oops.

Of course...no, not the same as what these two had gone through...

 

[NH2112]

Does the NH Hike Safe card actually absolve you of rescue costs, or only if you weren’t unprepared/reckless/negligent?

 

[skiguy]

Does the NH Hike Safe card actually absolve you of rescue costs, or only if you weren’t unprepared/reckless/negligent?

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is authorized to sell voluntary Hike Safe Cards for $25 per person and $35 per family. It covers the calendar year from the date and time of purchase through December 31. The card is valuable for anyone hiking, paddling, cross country skiing or engaging in other outdoor recreation. People who obtain the cards are not liable to repay rescue costs if they need to be rescued. An individual may still be liable for response expenses if the actions that created the need for the emergency response meet criteria set forth by legislation (RSA 206:26-bb).

https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xviii/206/206-26-bb.htm

Things get harder to understand when one tries to interpret negligence vs reckless. There are numerous discussions on this topic here if you search.
B the Hiker has a comprehensive understanding on that topic. Maybehe will chime in.