Hiking Merit Badge
- 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.
- Explain and, where possible, show the points of good hiking practices including the
principles 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Take five hikes, each on a different day, and each of 10 continuous miles. Prepare a
hike plan for each hike.*
- Take a hike of 20 continuous miles in one day following a hike plan you have prepared.*
- After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous
"trek") in requirements 5 and 6, write a short report of your experience. Give dates and descriptions of
routes covered, the weather, and any interesting things you saw. Share this
report with your merit badge counselor.
________
*The hikes in requirements 5 and 6
can be used in fulfilling Second Class (2a) and First Class (3) rank requirements, but
only if Hiking merit badge requirements 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been completed to the
satisfaction of your counselor. The hikes of requirements 5 and 6 cannot be used
to fulfill requirements of other merit badges.
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