Heading to the White Mountains this fall? Pack for winter, officials say

Late foliage and quiet trails draw plenty of Massachusetts hikers north in October and November. New Hampshire Fish and Game warns the mountains can feel like winter long before the calendar does.

In a fall safety item reported by The Conway Daily Sun, Fish and Game Lt. Todd Bogardus cautioned that colder temperatures, shorter days and early snow make the season riskier than summer.

The hikeSafe code

The hiker responsibility code, promoted by Fish and Game and the White Mountain National Forest, asks hikers to:

• Learn the terrain, weather and conditions, and bring the right gear.
• Tell someone your route, return time and backup plan.
• Start and finish as a group, moving at the slowest member's pace.
• Turn back when weather, fatigue or conditions call for it.
• Be ready to handle an injury or getting lost on your own.

The Ten Essentials

Fish and Game lists: map, compass, warm clothing (including a wool hat), extra food and water, a flashlight or headlamp, matches or firestarters, a first aid and repair kit, a whistle, rain and wind gear, and a pocket knife.

For colder outings, it adds items such as an insulated parka, extra mittens, a balaclava and insulated boots. Above treeline, its list includes crampons, an ice axe, goggles and a face mask.

The Hike Safe card

New Hampshire sells a voluntary Hike Safe card, $25 per person or $35 per family, valid through Dec. 31 of the year purchased. The state says holders are generally not liable for rescue costs, though people can still be billed if their actions meet criteria in state law. The card is not accepted outside New Hampshire.