Hiking Merit Badge

1. Requirements

5. Leave no trace

7. Hiking Journal

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while hiking, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, sprained ankle, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, hyperventilation, and altitude sickness.
   
   
2. Explain and where possible, show the points of good hiking practices, including the principle of leave no trace, hiking safety in the daytime and at night, courtesy to others, choice of footwear, and proper care of feet and footwear.

 

3. Explain how hiking is an aerobic activity. Develop a plan for conditioning yourself for 10 mile hikes, and describe how you will increase your fitness for longer hikes.

 

4. Make a written plan for a 10 mile hike. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list and a list of items for a trail lunch.

 

5. Take five hikes, each on a different day and each of 10 continuous miles. Prepare a hike plan for each hike.

 

6. Take a hike of 20 continuous miles in one day following a hiking plan you have prepared.

 

7. After each of the hikes in requirements 5 and 6, write a short report of your experience. Give dates and description of routes covered, the weather, and interesting things you saw. Share this report with your merit badge counselor.

 Hiking Trip Plan
(Where, When, Who, How, Why, What)

NAME:

DATE AND TIME OF DEPARTUTE:

DESTINATION:

ROUTE GOING:

ROUTE RETURNING:

DISTANCE GOING:                                                                   RETURNING:

BUDDY:

PURPOSE OF HIKE:

PERMISSIONS NEEDED:

SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER:

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

CLOTHING NEEDED:

HIKING MENU:

ESTIMATED TIME OF RETURN:

Clothing checklist

Warm Weather:

1. Scout shirt
2. T-shirt
3. Hiking shorts
4. Long pants
5. Sweater or Jacket
6. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots
7. Socks
8. Hat with brim
9. Bandanna
10. Rain gear

 Cold Weather:

1. Long-sleeved shirt
   Long pants
2. Sweater
3. Long underwear
4. Hiking boots
5. Socks
6. Insulated parka
7. Stocking hat
8. Mittens
9. Rain Gear

• certain items should be made of wool or warm synthetic fabric

Hiking Gear

1. Pocketknife
2. First aid kit (moleskin)
3. Extra clothing (socks)
4. Rain Gear
5. Water bottle
6. Flashlight
7. Trail food
8. Matches and fire starters
9. Sun protection
10. Insect repellent (non aresol)
11. Map and compass
12. Rope or cord
13. Notebook and pen or pencil
14. Plastic bag

 Leave no TRACE

1. Plan ahead and prepare

• Keep group size within allowed limits
• Go to areas appropriate for your activities
• Obtain required permits

    2.  Travel and camp on durable surfaces

• Stay on the trails
• Don’t cut across switch backs
• Select hard ground, snow or durable vegetation for cross country travel.

    3.  Dispose of Waste properly – Pack it in, Pack it out.

• Pack out all garbage and trash
• Use biodegradable soap at lease 200ft from water sources
• Dig catholes 6 to 8 inches deep and 200 ft from camp, trail or water source.
• Bury catholes and latrines and restore ground cover.

     4.  Leave what you find

• Do not pick vegetation
• Do not remove artifacts

    5 .  Minimize campfire impacts

• Consider carrying food that does not require heat for preparation.
• Build fires where appropriate
• Use existing fire rings
• Burn small wood gathered from ground
• Make sure fire is dead out and fire ring left clean.
• Replace sod or ground cover removed from fire sites

     6 . Respect Wildlife

• Avoid quick movements and loud noises, observe wildlife from afar.
• Give animals plenty of breathing space
• Store food securely and keep garbage and food scraps out of reach.

     7.  Be Considerate of other visitors

• Travel in small groups
• Camp quietly (leave radios and CD players at home)
• Respect privacy of others
• Make sure the color of your clothing blends with the environment (be wary in the fall during hunting season, wear orange for safety?)
• Respect private property and the rules of the area where you visit.

 Hiking Courtesy

1. Greet others cheerfully and with respect on trail
2. Step to the side of trail so others can pass.
3. If you meet horseback riders stop and ask the riders what they would like you to do to minimize any conflicts.
4. Keep to side of trial to allow others to pass such as bicycles.
5. Walk at a pace that is comfortable to others (buddy system)
6. Travel in single file with spacing ahead and behind
7. Be patient with others flexible in what comes your way and maintain an adventurous outlook.

 Hiking Journal

Date:

Time:

Campsite:

Companions:

Weather Conditions:

What we hiked today:

Wildlife Observed:

Personal Thoughts:

 Footwear and Care

1. Stop hiking the moment you feel a hotspot or when a blister is forming - moleskin

2. Don’t wear new boots on a hike, need to be "broken in"

3. Shoes or boots must fit well. Heels should not slip much and toes should have a little wiggle room.

4. Wear socks, use socks that wick moisture away, particularly when wearing boots, like wool or synthetic blend.

5. Carry one or two extra pair of clean dry socks and change in middle of day.

6. Use boot dressing on leather boots to keep it flexible (mink oil)

7. Use lightweight footwear where possible. Rough terrain will require stronger sole (sometimes a mountaineering boot will be too heavy and a gym shoe too light – depends on the trail).

First Aid for Hiking

1. Injuries or Illnesses that could occur while hiking: (refer to Tenderfoot, Second class and First class first aid requirements in Scout Handbook)

 

1. Hypothermia –

 

2. Heatstroke –

 

3. Heat Exhaustion –

 

4. Frostbite –

 

5. Dehydration –

 

6. Sprained Ankle –

 

7. Insect sting –

 

8. Tick bite –

 

9. Snakebite –

 

10. Hyperventilation –
2. Altitude sickness – Symptoms: headache, nausea, unusual tiredness, loss of motivation.

Preventing: drink plenty of fluids, ascend gradually, "climb high, sleep low".

3. Blisters – Special mention here because this is one of the most common hiking maladies.
1. Stop hiking and deal with it as soon as you think you may have a blister – "hot spot"
2. Remove Shoes and socks
3. Cut a piece of moleskin into the shape of a doughnut and fit it around the blister.
4. Trim several more moleskin doughnuts and stack them on top of the first to keep pressure off the injury.
5. Gel pad can be applied directly over a hot spot or blister to reduce friction and speed healing..
6. If you Must keep hiking it may be a good idea to drain the fluid. First wash the blister area. Then with a flame sterilized pin prick the blister at its lower edge and press out the fluid. Keep the wound clean and surround with doughnut.
7. Best solution is prevention – reinforce trouble areas initially with mole skin. Bring extra pair of socks – keep feet dry. Use only boots that are broken in.