Hiking
Merit Badge

District chairman and former Scoutmaster Mike DiTrani has completed five Philmont treks and frequently hikes in the Adirondacks, but some of his favorite hiking happens much closer to his Staten Island home. “Urban hiking turns sidewalks into trails,” he says. Manhattan Scoutmaster Bob Bradley enjoys taking his Scouts hiking in Central Park — just two blocks from their meeting place — and on sidewalks and shared-use paths all over New York City. “There are so many different opportunities,” he says. “And if you spin around a little bit, you can gain a new perspective — all for free.” We talked to these two veteran Scouters for tips on teaching the Hiking merit badge in a suburb or city. Routes Finding routes is easy, whether you use city streets, shared-use paths or trails in urban parks. DiTrani is a fan of Staten Island’s Greenbelt Nature Center, which has 35 miles of trails. Bradley has managed a 20-mile hike within Central Park’s 843 acres. To find routes in your city, do a Google search. Once you pick a route, Bradley says it’s important to stick to it, even though there are unlimited shortcuts Scouts can take. “Yes, that’s fun for them, but it’s not necessarily the goal you wanted them to attain,” he says. Etiquette and Safety On the trail, uphill hikers and horses have the right of way. In some urban settings, non-hiking pedestrians have the right of way — especially if they’re rushing to work or a subway station. It also helps to keep groups small, much as you would in the backcountry. In cities, you probably won’t have to worry about wildlife, but you will need to look out for bikes, scooters and cars. “You’ve really got to have your head on a swivel when you’re crossing the street in Manhattan,” DiTrani says. Gear and Food While it makes sense to carry rain gear, extra clothing and a first-aid kit, leave a couple of the Scout Basic Essentials at home if you plan on visiting attractions along the route. “With some of the museums, it’s much like at the airport,” DiTrani says. “They don’t want a lighter or a knife.” Visibility is important, especially early and late in the day, so consider headlamps and reflective clothing. “You know what’s good on the back of your backpack? One of those red blinking bike lamps,” he says. DiTrani is OK with his Scouts buying food along the route — he has a favorite pizzeria near Brooklyn Bridge Park — but Bradley holds the line. “Although we’re in New York City and food’s more accessible, the idea of the merit badge is that you need to carry this stuff with you,” he says. “We don’t want to swing over to a hot-dog vendor to grab a water bottle just because it’s in front of us.” Scheduling Mile for mile, urban hiking might take longer than trail hiking, especially if you allow for museum visits and the occasional street fair, so plan accordingly. And Be Prepared for amazement. Bradley still remembers a Scout and his mom who joined a troop hike to Central Park. “They’d lived there their whole life — grew up in that neighborhood two blocks away — and I introduced Central Park to them for the first time ever,” he says.

Whether you’re a dayhiker conquering local hills or a hardcore wilderness backpacker, your most important piece of gear is the same — and it might be the item you’ve put the least thought into buying: your boots. The wrong hiking footwear can send a backcountry adventure downhill fast. Take your first steps on your next successful adventure with these buying tips and one of these top-performing shoes and boots. SALOMON SPEEDCROSS J SHOESThe low-cut SALOMON SPEEDCROSS J SHOES ($75, salomon.com) are lightweight, comfortable and grippy. Non-waterproof mesh uppers provide exceptional breathability on the hottest days. Features like a molded midsole and one-pull lacing deliver sneaker-like fit and comfort. The toe cap protects feet from inevitable bashing on rocks and helps the shoes endure many days of playground use, and the outsole sticks to everything from steep slabs to rocky trails. While they’re not waterproof, they will dry very quickly. Best for day hiking and everyday wear. 6.3 oz. HIKING BOOTS OR HIKING SHOES? Plain sneakers or trail-running shoes are fine for an occasional hike but will not provide the support, traction, protection, durability or comfort of good hikers. If you’re planning to do multi-day hiking and backpacking, or trail activities in cold or wet weather, you’ll want sturdier hiking shoes or boots with extra ankle support and possibly waterproof protection. KEEN KIDS’ TARGHEE WATERPROOF LOW-CUT SHOESModeled on the popular adult shoes, the KEEN KIDS’ TARGHEE WATERPROOF LOW-CUT SHOES ($53, keenfootwear.com) are built for hard use. The membrane keeps feet dry. The one-pull lacing system snugs easily and tightly around your feet, and the padded tongue, collar and heel cradle your foot comfortably. Uppers made of leather and synthetic textiles with a mesh lining are durable and breathable. Bonus: These shoes use leather sourced from tanneries that minimize chemical use. 9.7 oz. HOW MUCH SHOULD HIKING BOOTS COST? How much should you spend? It depends on what features you want. The price tag rises with a waterproof-breathable membrane like Gore-Tex, leather uppers and a beefy toe bumper to improve durability, an outsole designed for good traction in varied terrain or simply a sturdier design. It’s worth it to pay for these features if you’ll be hiking frequently in wet environments or on rugged trails. Since you’re probably growing out of your shoes quickly, durability might be less important. Odds are, you’ll grow out of them long before you’ll wear them out. So cheaper entry-level shoes and boots might be good enough. Also look for clearance sales at local shops and online deals. When you see a really good sale, think about planning ahead and buying for the next size you’ll need. Some troops have a shoe/boot bin or hand-me-down program. Donate a pair of boots you’ve outgrown, and grab a pair that fits. And if your troop doesn’t have a boot bin, start one! (Remember: A new set of $20 insoles can really freshen up a pair of used boots.) ADIDAS TERREX MID GTX KID’S HIKING BOOTLooking for a light, comfortable, well-fitting boot at a good value for everything from day hikes to introductory backpacking trips? Check out the ADIDAS TERREX MID GTX KID’S HIKING BOOT ($110, adidas.com). Armored with tough nylon ripstop uppers and a molded toe cap, these mid-cuts are built for rugged trails. The Gore-Tex membrane provides top-notch waterproofing. One-pull lacing makes them easy to put on and take off. The lugged outsole grips dry and wet ground. 7.8 oz. HOW TO FIT A HIKING BOOT Fit varies greatly between brands. Buy boots at a store where they know how to measure your feet. When trying on shoes and boots, make sure you’re wearing the type of socks you’ll be hiking in. The heel should be snug with enough wiggle room for your toes up front. Kick the floor — your toes shouldn’t hit the end. Try on different brands and walk around in them in the store. Spend at least 10 minutes test driving them. It might time to get a good fit, but never as long as it takes to limp painfully for miles down a trail. If you buy online, try them inside your house, because once you’ve worn new shoes outside you usually can’t return them. If you’re planning to do winter hiking, look for extra toe room for thicker socks and better foot circulation. BREAK IN YOUR BOOTS While your new boots or shoes might feel comfortable right out of the box, it’s not a good idea to wear brand-new shoes on a long hike without breaking them in first — unless, of course, you like painful blisters! So start by wearing your new shoes to school, around the house, anywhere you can. The more time you spend in them ahead of time, the better off you’ll be on the trail. This is especially important with new leather boots. L.L. BEAN KIDS’ WATERPROOF TRAIL MODEL HIKERSThe first rule of shopping for gear at a good value: Look for a brand with a longstanding reputation. The mid-cut L.L. BEAN KIDS’ WATERPROOF TRAIL MODEL HIKERS ($59, llbean.com) have a lace-up closure for a fit that conforms to the foot, a waterproof-breathable membrane and uppers that marry waterproof suede with breathable polyester mesh for durability while keeping your feet dry. L.L. Bean’s EVA midsole provides comfort while the versatile Trail Trac outsole grips just about any type of terrain you step on. 1 lb. 11 oz. WATERPROOF BOOTS? Get boots with a membrane to keep your feet dry if you often hike in wet conditions. Waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex, eVent and others usually do a good job of keeping the water out (think: stream crossings, heavy rains). If you’re a fair-weather hiker, footwear without a membrane is far more breathable, keeping your feet cool on hot days OBOZ BRIDGER MID WATERPROOFIf you’re stepping into adult sizes and need a tough, comfortable, well-fitting boot at a good value, try on the OBOZ BRIDGER MID WATERPROOF ($180, obozfootwear.com). A single-density midsole and forefoot plate deliver solid support and protection underfoot. The widely spaced multidirectional lugs give reassuring traction on rocks, packed and loose dirt, and scree. Leather uppers and a rubber toe bumper stand up to hard use. Oboz is known for its nice fit, including a roomy toe box, and the brand’s unusually well-cushioned insole. 2 lbs. 6 oz. TRACTION Often overlooked is the outsole design, which determines how well your boots grip the ground. Look for deep, widely spaced lugs for mud, scree, loose dirt and snow. Smaller multidirectional lugs are common in lighter shoes for varied terrain, while a smoother grippy patch under the toes helps shoes stick when scrambling over rocks. TIMBERLAND JUNIOR MT. MADDSEN WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTSGet the quality of an adult boot packed into a smaller package in the TIMBERLAND JUNIOR MT. MADDSEN WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS ($80, timberland.com). These rugged hikers boast many of the same features of the adult versions: good support and cushioning for full days on the trail, a waterproof-breathable membrane, secure lacing for a snug fit, premium full-grain waterproof leather uppers, and outsole lugs that bite into any surface and are aligned with the foot’s pressure points to maximize traction. 1 lb. 8 oz. LEATHER VS. SYNTHETIC HIKING BOOTS Usually less expensive and lighter, synthetic uppers vary significantly but can offer a versatile combination of durability and breathability. More expensive leather uppers are often more durable and conform to your feet, improving the fit. Either type may be paired with a membrane.

Boots are one of the most important pieces of gear you’ll take on the trail. A worn-out pair can make you miserable. So take care of your footwear, and it’ll take care of you. Always clean your boots after every hike. If you have leather hiking boots, apply a leather treatment like Nikwax every once in a while to keep them waterproof and prevent cracking and drying out. Never dry wet boots by the campfire. The heat will damage the soles and weaken the glue that holds them together. To dry them out, just remove the insoles and stuff your boots with newspaper. It’s OK to fill your shoes with water and rinse them out. This will get rid of salts from your body’s sweat.

Someday, you’ll be able to think big when it comes to backpacking. Maybe you’ll go to Philmont Scout Ranch and backpack 100 miles in the New Mexico backcountry. Or maybe you’ll walk the entire length of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. Until that day, it’s OK to think … not so big. Venturing Crew 413 from Elburn, Illinois, has some veteran backpackers who could probably handle Philmont. But they also have plenty of inexperienced guys and girls who aren’t ready for such a massive trip. On their outing to the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, the veterans in the group backpacked the entire Berryman Trail, a 24-mile loop that ends right where it begins. It’s a good, solid three-day trip for experienced hikers. In the meantime, the less experienced members hiked part of the way on the trail, and then rode back to base camp to spend the night. That way, they avoided the stress of setting up camp in a different spot each evening, while still getting enough experience to learn about the basics of backpacking. They started small, so that someday they’ll be able to think big. First-Time Backpackers For Megan Steffey, 14, the Berryman Trail would be her first backpacking experience. She had joined the crew a few months earlier for just this kind of trip. Megan knew that Crew 413 had the perfect plan: 10 miles on each of the first two days, followed by a short third day. That way, they’d have time to visit Elephant Rocks State Park and St. Louis’ famous Gateway Arch before the six-hour drive home. And she was ready. She had the right gear. She had completed a 5-mile practice hike with a full pack to get the feel of backpacking. And, most important, she had the right attitude. “I was nervous because I had never done it before,” she says, “and I was excited to see everything that was going to happen.” It wasn’t long before Megan and the rest of the crew learned something else: It’s easy to make a wrong turn, even on a trail for beginners. No worries, though. The veteran backpackers teamed up with the adults to solve the problem. They realized where they had made the mistake, and in no time the group was back on track. A good lesson for everyone, beginners and experts alike. “Everybody was working together to figure out where to go,” Megan says. “We ended up getting lost, but it was fun. We worked together to get through that to get back on track.” Good Advice for All Backpackers For Kyle Roethemeier, the 16-year-old president of Crew 413, the Berryman Trail would be pretty similar to the handful of backpacking trips he had already experienced. As the youth leader of the crew, one of his jobs was to keep an eye on his fellow backpackers, especially the ones with less experience. “For some of the time, we were setting the pace,” Kyle says. “We always tried to make sure we could see everyone. There were times when I couldn’t see everyone, so we’d stop and wait for them to catch up.” Kyle and the other experienced crew members also provided advice when needed, carried extra gear when required and overall made sure everyone was having fun. One of the biggest challenges of backpacking, Kyle has learned, is how you approach it with your mind. “On my second backpacking trip, I remember we had an older Scout with us who always said, ‘The camp is just around the corner.’ ” Kyle says. “And if you think of it like that, it tends to go a lot easier than if you think, ‘This has been going on forever, and we’re never going to get there.’ ” Make Backpacking Fun For Tim Bohanek, 16, the Berryman Trail was supposed be his eighth backpacking trip. That was, until his doctor advised him that it wasn’t a good idea to go backpacking with an injured knee. Still, he was happy to provide advice to the rookies when needed. “Make sure you have good, broken-in hiking boots,” he says. “And make sure your backpack is fitted right. “After my first two trips, I finally figured out how to do it right. Some of the older Scouts let me know what worked for them in the past.” For Brianna Stiles, 20, the Berryman trek was an opportunity to experience more than a one-night campout. “It was totally new to me,” she says. “I’d been camping before, but never for that long.” The forecast called for pleasant weather, but Brianna saw how fast that can change when the crew was met with light rain and chilly temperatures, especially at night. She also learned how awkward it can be to walk on an uneven trail with a 30-pound pack on your back. “It was a lot of switchbacks going up and down hills,” she says. “If you looked up from the trail for a moment, you could have tripped on a rock and fallen.” And these hardships don’t even cover the mediocre freeze-dried food. In the end, though, Brianna learned the most important backpacking lesson of all. “Don’t push yourself too hard,” she says. “You’re gonna make it. It’s not that difficult. You’ll have a good time. “The last night we were there, we all got together and had dinner around the campfire and talked about the entire trip. It was a lot of fun.” Know Before You Go The Berryman Trail is listed by the U.S. Forest Service as having a difficulty level of “moderate.” Motor vehicles aren’t allowed, but hikers must yield to bikes and horses. Unless you’re an expert, plan on three days to hike the entire loop. You can camp anywhere along the trail, but remember to dispose of human waste at least 100 feet away from the trail and campsite. Learn more about Mark Twain National Forest. Boots and Packing Tips Don’t buy a fancy new pair of hiking boots the day before your backpacking trek. Instead, break them in by wearing them for several weeks in advance. When packing your pack, make sure the weight is on your hips and not your back. It’s easier for your bones than your muscles to support the weight of the pack. For more backpacking tips, check out our other backpacking articles.

There’s nothing better than hiking or backpacking in the great outdoors, but a blister can quickly ruin your day. Here are tips for how to avoid getting blisters and how to treat them. Some of the most common causes of blisters: Walking around with wet feet. Wearing boots that are too big and rub against your skin. Wearing brand new boots on the trail. To prevent getting blisters from wet feet, always pack an extra pair of socks. You can also pack some foot powder to keep your feet dry. Before buying new hiking boots, make sure they fit right and snug while wearing a good pair of socks so they won’t rub your feet raw on the trail. Then, make sure you break them in by wearing them a while before going on a hike. On every hike, you or someone on the trip just bring the following blister prevention and treatment items: Alcohol wipes for disinfecting a popped blister. Safety pin and matches if it becomes necessary to pop a blister. The match is used to disinfect the needle. Foot powder for keeping feet dry. Petroleum jelly, for reducing friction around tender skin. Duct tape for covering tender skin or holding bandages in place. Pocketknife with scissors Moleskin pads Most blisters start as a “hot spot,” a red tender spot on the skin. If you treat a hot spot early, you can prevent it from forming a blister. Just use your scissors to cut a hole the size of the hot spot with a piece of moleskin, and use it to encircle the blister. Duct tape can also be used to cover the tender area. It’s a good idea to apply petroleum jelly or another ointment to the hot spot to help reduce friction. Once a blister forms, you may want to call it a day. But, if you have to keep moving and the blister is too painful, you might need to drain the fluid. Just make sure to sterilize the needle and keep the blister clean.

Few activities seem more Scout-like than hiking. But that doesn’t mean your Scouts will jump at the chance to hit the trail. Compared with sports, video games, and other youth pursuits, hiking strikes many boys as slow and quiet, bearing a distinct resemblance to hard work. That’s why the best Hiking merit badge counselors double as cheerleaders for this quintessential Scouting pursuit. They instinctively understand the need to sell the sizzle so Scouts will buy the steak. “You’ve got to motivate them, you’ve got to give them a sense of competition, and you’ve got to make it memorable,” says Steve Lagreca, a veteran Hiking merit badge counselor from Detroit. “It’s really not all that hard. Any two of those things will probably hit 90 percent of a patrol.” Motivation comes in many forms, including patches. Besides the merit badge, Scouts who hike can work toward national awards such as the 50-Miler Award and the Historic Trails Award. Other patches recognize those who complete signature hikes locally or in state or national parks. Then there’s the ice cream. Troop 479 in Eden Prairie, Minn., often plans hikes that end up at a local Dairy Queen or Culver’s outlet. “It’s a lot more fun if there’s a destination,” says Scoutmaster Paul Kautz. You also can use less-tangible motivating tools. Both Kautz and Lagreca primarily work with Scouts who are preparing for high-adventure trips. These kids realize that the hiking they do now will make the hiking they do later a lot easier. Competition works, too. In the Great Lakes Council, where Lagreca serves, Philmont crews are eager to log lots of miles on their treks. At the troop level, it’s easy to track the number of miles your Scouts have hiked and recognize the top patrol or each Scout who hikes 100 miles. You could also establish a troop record for the longest one-day hike or the highest elevation reached. Beyond motivation and competition, though, make your hikes memorable. Scenery, sunsets, wildlife, and waterfalls all provide interesting trips. If you’re not sure which trails to choose at a given park, Lagreca suggests talking with a park ranger. “Ask them, ‘If you only had time for one thing, what would you do?’” he says. “You’ll find that hike.” Although hikes lie at the heart of the Hiking merit badge, a Scout also must develop a written plan before each trek and write a short report afterward. Some Scouts find these requirements as tough as the hikes themselves. “The reality is that many boys don’t write anymore,” Lagreca says. “It’s really hard.” For hike planning, Kautz recommends that Scouts use Gmaps Pedometer (gmap-pedometer.com), a free Web site for developing route maps. To start them off on the hike-report requirement, he holds a quick group debriefing after each trek. “We try to do that at the end of the hike when they’re waiting for their parents,” Kautz says. One of his techniques involves showing Scouts copies of previous hike reports. “I’ll say, ‘Here’s what Joey did. It doesn’t have to be a term paper.’” Still, Lagreca never loses sight of what’s really important with the Hiking merit badge. “From my perspective, the whole game is to get them on the trail. The trail will do what the trail is supposed to do.” That’s a tangible way to teach your Scouts that the journey—not just the merit badge—is hiking’s real destination.

On long backcountry treks, you’ll want a hydration plan other than to lug around multiple gallons of water. When you encounter a freshwater source, such as a river or a lake, you have a few options to make that water potable: boil, filter or treat with tablets. You’ll want to treat the water, no matter how clean it looks. It could have bacteria, viruses and parasites that can make you sick. Boiling the water for a full minute at a rolling boil should kill most of those nasty organisms. At elevations of 6,500 feet and above, boil for three minutes. If you’re on the go, though, you can drop water treatment tablets into your bottle and wait a half-hour for clean water. Or you could filter your H2O — but what kind of filter should you use? There are straws, pumps, bags and bottles. Some contain chemicals or carbon to further treat the water. Many companies tout how small their filter pores are, using a measurement called microns. So, what is a micron? Micron is short for micrometer, which is one-millionth of a meter. For those of us not too familiar with the metric system, especially the minuscule end of it, a micron equals .00003937 inches. Seems like that should be small enough to stop most contaminants, right? Well, yes, for sand, dirt, protozoan cysts, most bacteria and the diarrhea-inducing parasite Cryptosporidium, which measures at about 5 microns. However, some viruses can be as small as .0004 microns in size. Viruses likely won’t be much of a risk when traveling in the backcountry, so a filter with pores 1 micron or less should provide sufficient protection. Most microfilters measure at .2 microns. Consider investing in a water purifier instead if you’re traveling in places where people are being unhygienic around water sources. Or again, go with the tablets or boiling your water. Another label to take notice of is “absolute pore size” and “mean pore size.” “Absolute” refers to the largest pore in the filter, while “mean” is the average, meaning there are pore sizes bigger and smaller.