You’ve made it to the home stretch of the Hiking merit badge! If Part 1 was about surviving the trail (hazards, first aid, footwear, and trail etiquette), Part 2 is where you learn how to respect the outdoors, build the fitness to actually complete your hikes, and document what you learned along the way.
Think about it: Leave No Trace and the Outdoor Code aren’t just merit badge checkboxes. They’re the foundation of how Scouts treat every campsite, trail, and wilderness area they’ll ever visit. Requirements 2b-5 give you the knowledge and the physical challenge to cap off one of the most hands-on Eagle-required badges out there. 🙂
If you have other Eagle-required merit badges to earn, I’d recommend checking out my Difficulty Ranking Guide to Every Eagle-required Badge. There, you’ll also find the links to my other merit badge guides, as well as a description and summary of each badge’s requirements. I’m certain this resource will be helpful to Scouts on their road to Eagle!
If you haven’t finished Part 1 (Requirements 1-2a) yet, start there first. That guide covers hiking hazards, first aid for 13 conditions, and all of the good hiking practices in requirement 2a.
Hiking Merit Badge Answers: Requirements 2b-5 (Part 2)
- Do the following:
–2b) Read aloud or recite the Leave No Trace guidelines, and discuss why each is important while hiking.
–2c) Read aloud or recite the Outdoor Code, and give examples of how to follow it on a hike - 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.
- 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 merit badge 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.*
- 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 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.
In part 1 of my guide to the Hiking merit badge, we covered basic hiking first aid, safety techniques for the trail, and proper outdoor ethics. If you’d like to review those sections, you should check out Part 1 of My Guide To The Hiking Merit Badge.
Hiking Requirement 2 (Continued): Leave No Trace and the Outdoor Code
2b) Read aloud or recite the Leave No Trace guidelines, and discuss why each is important while hiking.
Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethic that all Scouts are charged with following. By being mindful of these principles, Scouts learn to reduce their environmental impact and behave properly in the outdoors. Take a minute to read through and understand the seven principles of Leave No Trace:
The 7 Leave No Trace Principles
- Plan Ahead and Prepare. As a Scout, this one should be pretty easy! Be prepared with the supplies you need and have a plan of action. Check the weather reports beforehand, coordinate with your patrol, and bring only what you need to minimize waste. (See my Scout hike packing list for more info!)
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces. When you go on an outing, minimize your impact on the environment. Camp on solid ground where vegetation will be disrupted the least, and hike on paths that have already been made.
- Dispose of Waste Properly. Always dispose of your trash and human waste in a way that people or animals won’t come across it. Pack out any trash you create and dispose of it in a dumpster. Human waste should be taken care of in marked outhouses, or buried if that’s not possible.
- Leave What You Find. Enjoy nature where it is, but don’t disturb it. Growing up in Hawaii, we had a legend that if you took lava rocks on an outing you’d be cursed! Moral of the story: leave what you find. 😉
- Minimize Campfire Impacts. You’ll learn how to do this by earning your Firem’n Chit, but always be extra careful around fires. Never leave your campfires unattended, and only use already-made fire pits whenever possible.
- Respect Wildlife. Always leave the wildlife undisturbed. They’re not pets that want to be interacted with. Plantlife should be left alone to the best of your ability as well. Take pictures from far away if you must. Wild animals can be dangerous and unpredictable, so stay on the safe side by respecting their distance.
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors. The outdoors is meant to be enjoyed peacefully by everyone. Make a good name for yourself and your troop when you’re out. If another Scout is being inconsiderate or breaking any of the Leave No Trace rules, encourage them to cut it out.
While the Leave No Trace principles might seem simple, they’re a vital part of ethical outdoor use and should be something you always keep in mind while enjoying nature. By leaving no trace, you’ll set a great example for your troop and keep our wilderness beautiful for future visitors! 🙂
2c) Read aloud or recite the Outdoor Code, and give examples of how to follow it on a hike.
“As an American, I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manners, be careful with fire, be considerate in the outdoors, and be conservation-minded.”
As you most likely already know, the Outdoor Code represents a Scout’s promise to protect and preserve our natural environment. By practicing the Outdoor Code during hikes, outings, and throughout your everyday life, you’re doing your part to make sure the earth stays healthy and sustainable for future generations!
There are so many ways to practice the Outdoor Code while hiking. Here are a few examples of environmentally friendly practices your troop is probably already doing:
- Stay on designated trails: This helps to prevent erosion and protect the natural environment.
- Leave gates as you found them: If a gate is closed, leave it closed. If it’s open, leave it open. This helps to protect livestock and the environment.
- Pack it in, pack it out: Bring all of your gear and supplies with you on the hike and don’t leave anything behind.
- Keep noise levels down: Loud noises can disturb both wildlife and other hikers.
- Bonus tip: Each patrol can be in charge of a garbage bag, and use it to collect any trash they find along the trail. The patrol that collects the most trash wins!
These tips are just the beginning. As you progress in Scouting, you’ll learn even more about the importance of protecting our environment. For more than 20 other awesome ideas to be more sustainable within your troop, check out my complete list of ways to practice the Outdoor Code! 🙂
Hiking Requirement 3: Physical Conditioning
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.
Hiking is an aerobic activity. Aerobic means “with oxygen,” and refers to any activity where you’re able to breathe, but endurance is required. When hiking, oxygenated blood is pumped by your heart to deliver oxygen to your muscles. Frequent aerobic activity will improve your personal fitness!
To be able to hike for 10+ miles, you’ll need to be in great shape. By conditioning yourself with other types of aerobic activity, you’ll increase your fitness so that you’re prepared to complete longer hikes!
The best way to condition yourself for long treks is to go on multiple shorter hikes while carrying your backpack. These should be between 50-80% of your goal hike’s length. This will train you to trek while carrying weight, which is key to successful hiking. 🙂
Scout Tip: While conditioning for your 10 and 20-milers, you’ll likely find yourself sore afterward. Give yourself a few days to recover after hikes so that your muscles can repair. Knowing when to rest is a crucial part of hiking, even for expert hikers!
Check out this informative video (3:38) on how to build endurance and improve your conditioning for upcoming hikes:
Hiking Requirement 4: Your Hikes
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 merit badge 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.)
Now that you’ve learned the possible hazards you could encounter on a hiking trail, first aid methods, proper outdoor ethics, and how to condition yourself for a challenging trek, you’re ready to begin actually hiking! This requirement will be challenging, so be prepared. Once you complete these five hikes, you’re in the final stretch of earning the Hiking merit badge!
For your written hike plan, you should be able to find a trail map online. You can locate most maps and further information about your trail at hikingproject.com.
Aside from the trail map, the rest of your plan should remain more or less the same from hike to hike. Just make an effort to understand the overall difficulty of the hike, then pack your water and supplies accordingly. When in doubt, ask your hike leader or Scoutmaster!
Your 20-mile Hike
This is the big one! However, if you’ve made it past your 10-milers, I have no doubt that you’ll be able to crush your 20-miler as well. Just take things slow and steady. You have a looooong day ahead. 😛
Scout Tip: Here’s a tip I learned from running track and used for my own 20-miler. Make sure you’re well-hydrated at least 2 days before you embark on this long hike. Being extra-hydrated before the hike will give you more energy. Plus, you’ll also feel less soreness during and after the hike!
Before you get going, I want to make sure you know everything necessary to have an enjoyable hike. I’d recommend watching this video (7:37) packed with awesome hacks for safe, fun hikes:
On a final note, always be prepared to learn new tips for better hiking. Be sure to check out the Scout hike packing list if you haven’t already. Now get out there and start hiking. You got this! 😀
Hiking Requirement 5: Your Hike Reports
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 merit badge counselor.
This is actually the fun part! After you get back home and wash up, take a few minutes to sit down and bask in the glory of another successful hike. Then, simply start jotting down your thoughts! Here are some things to cover in each report:
- Where did your hike take place and how long was it?
- What did you think of the hike? What happened? Were you prepared? If not, how could you be better prepared for next time?
- Did you see anything cool or unexpected? How did that make you feel?
- What Scouts did you hang out with during the hike? What did you all talk about?
- What will be your #1 favorite memory from the hike? Why?
My reflections were short passages anywhere from 200-400 words. I typically included pictures from the hike, as well as some of the other highlights from the trail. These hike reflections will be great memories to look back on once you’re an Eagle Scout! 😉
Congrats on Finishing the Hiking Merit Badge!
Hiking is a challenging but rewarding lifelong pursuit. By understanding each of the answers for the Hiking merit badge, you’ll have all of the tools necessary to confidently complete any wilderness trek!
To be 100% prepared for any Scouting activity though, you’ll need to have a strong grasp of first aid. If you’re earning your Hiking merit badge, that means you should be about ready to earn your First Aid merit badge as well! You can click the link to get started.
Congratulations, you’ve made it! The Hiking merit badge isn’t easy, but neither is Scouting. By taking on difficult challenges, you prove yourself as a Scout who’s able to overcome anything! Keep up the great work and, until next time, best of luck on your Scouting journey. 🙂
Click here to return to Part 1 of my guide to the Hiking merit badge!