Requirements
1. Do the following:
a. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter
while hiking, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate,
and respond to these hazards.
b. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur
while hiking, including hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, heat exhaustion,
heatstroke, sunburn, hyperventilation, altitude sickness, sprained ankle, blisters,
insect stings, tick bites, and snakebite.
2. Explain and, where possible, show the points of good hiking practices including
proper outdoor ethics, 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. Take the five following hikes, each on a different day, and each of continuous
miles. These hikes MUST be taken in the following order:
One 5-mile hike
Three 10-mile hikes
One 15-mile hike
You may stop for as many short rest periods as needed, as well as one meal,
during each hike, but not for an extended period (example: overnight). Prepare
a written hike plan before each hike and share it with your Scoutmaster or a
designee. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of items
for a trail lunch.*
5. Take a hike of 20 continuous miles in one day following a hike plan you
have prepared. You may stop for as many short rest periods as needed,
as well as one meal, but not for an extended period (example: overnight).*
6. After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous “trek”)
in requirements 4 and 5, write a short reflection of your experience. Give dates
and descriptions of routes covered, the weather, and any interesting things
you saw. It may include something you learned about yourself, about the outdoors,
or about others you were hiking with. Share this with your merit
badge counselor.
*The required hikes for this badge may be used in fulfilling hiking requirements for rank advancement.
However, these hikes cannot be used to fulfill requirements of other merit badges.
Resources:
Scouting.org Merit Badges - Requirements
boyscouttrail.com Merit Badges