Hiking Merit Badge Requirements

Requirements

1. # Copy link to requirement 1
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 1.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.
      Resources:

      • Surviving the Wild - Essential Hiking Safety Tips (video)
   2. # Copy link to requirement 1.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.
      Resources:

      • Backpacking First Aid (What To Carry + Foot Care, Snakes, Poison Plants, Hypothermia, etc) (video)
      • How to Apply a Compression Wrap for a Sprained Ankle (picture)
2. # Copy link to requirement 2
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 2.a
      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.
      Resources:

      • The ONE Tip You Need to Choose Between Hiking Boots, Shoes, and Trail Runners (video)
   2. # Copy link to requirement 2.b
      Read aloud or recite the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, and discuss why each is important while hiking.
      Resources:

      • Principles of LNT (video)
      • Principles of LNT (website)
   3. # Copy link to requirement 2.c
      Read aloud or recite the Outdoor Code, and give examples of how to follow it on a hike.
      Resources:

      • The Outdoor Code (website)
3. # Copy link to requirement 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.
   Resources:

   • Planning and Training for a Hike (video)
   • Training for Elevation Gain (video)
4. # Copy link to requirement 4
   Take four 10-mile hikes and one 20-mile hike, each on a different day, and each of continuous miles. Prepare a written hike plan before each hike and share it with your counselor or a designee for approval before starting the hike. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of items for a trail lunch. 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 such as overnight.
   1. # Copy link to requirement 4.a
      10-mile hike #1
   2. # Copy link to requirement 4.b
      10-mile hike #2
   3. # Copy link to requirement 4.c
      10-mile hike #3
   4. # Copy link to requirement 4.d
      10-mile hike #4
   5. # Copy link to requirement 4.e
      20-mile hike
   Resources:

   • Maps and Ideas for Hikes (website)
5. # Copy link to requirement 5
   After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous “trek”) in requirement 4, write a short report on your hike. For each hike, give the date and description (or map) of the route covered, the weather, any interesting things you saw, and any challenges you had and how you overcame them. It may include something you learned about yourself, about the outdoors, or about others you were hiking with. Share this with your counselor.