Requirement 1
Requirement
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.
How to Anticipate, Prevent, Mitigate, and Respond to Hazards
Setting off on a hike without properly preparing can have disastrous results. Make sure you are ready, from your physical condition to the best gear for the trip.
What's Your Plan?
The Five W’s of a Trip Plan
A trip plan prepares you for the challenges of a hike, a campout, or any other outdoor activity. Write down the five W’s of a trip plan. The first principle of Leave No Trace is essential when planning a hike, as it helps prevent potential hazards along the way.
Where are you going?
Decide on a route to your destination and back. For backcountry trips, include a copy of a map with your route marked in pencil. Check the weather before your hike and review the trail etiquette guidelines.
When will you return?
If you are not back reasonably close to the time on your trip plan, Scout leaders and family members can take steps to locate you and, if necessary, provide assistance.
Who is hiking with you?
List the names of your partners. If you need a ride to or from a trail, write down who will do the driving. The buddy system is always the best safety practice when hiking.
Why are you going?
To fish in a lake? Climb a peak? Explore a new area? When selecting your hiking destination, be sure to research the terrain and assess its difficulty. Consider the experience level of your hiking group.
What are you taking?
Always carry the Scout Basic Essentials. If you are camping out, you might need additional food, water, gear, and shelter.
Did You Know:
Many wilderness areas have restrictions on how many people can hike together on the same trail. These limits help protect the environment, reduce trail erosion, and preserve the natural experience for everyone
Before you go:
- Check with the local park or forest service for group size rules.
- Larger groups may need a special permit or may be asked to split into smaller teams and hike different routes.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles to keep the wilderness beautiful for future Scouts!
What To Bring On Your Hike?
Take the Scout Basic Essentials with you on every outdoor adventure. The items on the list may help you avoid emergencies, and they can make a pleasant hike even better.
Pocketknife (with permission)
A pocketknife or multitool could be the most useful tool you can own. Keep yours clean, sharp, and secure. Do not pick one that is heavy, and remember that knives are tools and not toys.
First-aid kit (see essential supplies below)
Your patrol leader or a troop leader will bring a group first-aid kit on most scout trips, but you should always carry your own personal kit.
Personal First-Aid Kit Checklist
Pack all items in a self-sealing plastic bag and keep it in your daypack
Pocketknife (with permission)
- 6 adhesive bandages (various sizes)
- 2 sterile gauze pads (3-by-3 inch)
- 1 small roll of adhesive tape
- 1 piece of moleskin (3-by-6 inch)
Hygiene and Protection
- Small bar of soap
- Small tube of antiseptic ointment
- 1 pair of nonlatex gloves
- Mouth-barrier device (for rescue breathing)
Documentation
- Pencil
- Small notepad or paper (for recording symptoms and treatments)
- Extra clothes
- Layering clothing allows a hiker to adjust what you wear to match the weather.
Warm-Weather Hiking Clothing Checklist
Pack smart to stay cool, dry, and ready for changing conditions
Clothing
- Scout shirt
- Lightweight t-shirt (bright colors help with visibility)
- Hiking shorts
- Long pants (for cooler temps or brush protection)
- Sweater or warm jacket (for early mornings or evenings)
Footwear
- Sturdy shoes or hiking boots
- Comfortable hiking socks (wool or synthetic blend)
- Extra pair of dry socks
Accessories
- Bandana (for cooling, wiping sweat, or sun protection)
- Small notepad or paper (for recording symptoms and treatments)
- Hiking stick or trekking poles
- A hiking stick can add rhythm and balance to your stride. Use it to measure the depth of a stream and to help maintain better balance. A hiking stick can be as simple as a dead branch found on a trailside and used for just a mile or two. A pair of trekking poles has the effect of putting a hiking stick in each of your hands. They are a great aid to balance, especially over rough ground, on snow, or when you are tired.
Rain Protection
- Rain gear (poncho or waterproof jacket)
- Rain pants or gaiters (optional but helpful)
Footwear
- Sturdy hiking boots or shoes
- Warm socks (wool or synthetic blend)
- Extra pair of dry socks
Outerwear
- Warm hooded parka or insulated jacket
- Rain gear (poncho, parka, pants, gaiters)
Accessories
- Stocking hat (fleece or wool)
- Mittens or gloves (fleece or wool) with water-resistant shells
- Bandana (for warmth or protection)
- Snowshoes or cross-country skis.
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Rain gear can protect you from showers but also block the wind and help keep you warm.
- Water bottle
- Water is even more important to a hiker than food. Fill at least one water bottle before you start out, and sip from it often. In hot weather, you may need to carry several water containers. Treat any water taken from streams, lakes, or springs before you drink it. Carry lots of drinking water—at least 2 quarts per person (that’s about 8 cups), and more if the day might be hot.
- Flashlight
- An LED flashlight will cast a strong beam with just one or two AA batteries. LED headlamps are a good option, too, because they leave your hands free. Carry spare batteries and reverse the batteries in your flashlight during the day to prevent the light from coming on in your pack.
- Snacks or trail food
- Take along high-energy food to power you through the day. Take a bag of trail food to nibble on while you walk. Granola is the choice of many hikers. So is GORP— good old raisins and peanuts. Apples, oranges, carrots, and bananas are fine snacks, too. A solid lunch will see you through the middle of the day. Sandwiches, fruit, carrots, nuts, and raisins are all tasty. Instead of sandwiches, you might try crackers with cheese or peanut butter.
- Matches or fire starter (with adult supervision)
- Strike-anywhere matches or butane lighter, can light a stove or kindle a fire in any weather. Protect matches and other fire starters from moisture by storing them in a self-sealing plastic bag.
- Sunscreen and hat
- Guard your skin by applying a good sunscreen (SPF 30 or greater) and wearing a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and lip balm that contains sunscreen. Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before you hit the trail, and do not forget to reapply every two hours.
- Map and compass
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Global Positioning System
Modern hikers use GPS receivers to pinpoint their location anywhere on Earth by connecting to satellites orbiting 12,000 miles above.
- In case your GPS is not working on the trail. Make sure you know how to use a compass.
Global Positioning System
A GPS receiver accurately calculates the longitude and latitude of any spot on the globe by taking bearings on satellites orbiting 12,000 miles above Earth. If you decide to use one, study the manufacturer’s instructions and practice using the GPS before you go hiking. Once you learn to operate a GPS receiver, you can use it to identify precise locations, determine elevations above sea level, and plot the path of a trek. Inputting this information will create a history in the receiver that can be used if you need to retrace your steps. Electronic navigational instruments will surely continue to improve in accuracy, versatility, and ease of use.
A GPS receiver (especially one with dead batteries) is no substitute for being able to navigate the backcountry with traditional tools. Develop confidence in your ability to use maps and compasses and then, if you wish, add to them with a GPS receiver.
Run out of water?
Be Prepared!
Water from streams, lakes, and springs may contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that you are unable to see with the human eye. If you run out of water, consider these three ways to make water safer for drinking.
- Boiling: Bringing water to a rolling boil for a full minute will kill most organisms. If the water looks especially dirty, try filtering it through a bandana before boiling.
- Filtering: Water treatment filters made for hikers and campers are effective and easy to use. Some pump water through pores small enough to strain out bacteria or parasites. Others obtain chemicals or carbon that help make the water safer to drink. Be sure to follow the instructions.
- Treating: Water treatment tablets are sold in small bottles and in packets. to treat water, follow the instructions on the packaging. If treating water in your water bottle, loosen the lid and slosh a little water into the threads at the top; that will treat the water that’s trapped there.
Check out how to boil, filter, and treat your water!
Which filter is best for you?
Got Lost?
Be Prepared!
Be prepared in case you take a wrong turn and aren’t sure which direction to go. If you think you are lost, stop where you are and follow the four steps that spell STOP!
- Stay Calm: Sit down and have some water and something to eat. If you’re cold, put on a jacket or sweater. Breatheslowly and relax.
- Think: Try to remember how you got where you are. If you have a map, open it and see what you can learn from the symbols and contour lines.
- Observe: Look for your footprints in soft ground or snow. Notice any landmarks that can be clues to your location. Listen for sounds of other Scouts.
- Plan: If you are convinced that you know which way to go to get back on track, move carefully. Use a compass to set a bearing in the direction of your destination. Then clearly mark the way you are going with broken branches, piles of stones, or whatever else is handy in case you need to find your way back to the spot where you’ve been sitting.
Check out how to read a compass!
Encounter Wild Animals?
Be Prepared!
Wild animals like deer, raccoons, and snakes are part of the outdoor experience. Watch from a distance and avoid disturbing nests or young animals. Never get between a mother and her offspring. You are too close if your actions cause an animal to change its activities. Always avoid wildlife when they are mating, nesting, raising young, and during other sensitive times. Stay alert to avoid surprising animals—some are well-camouflaged. On low-visibility trails, talk or make noise so animals know you’re coming.
Three tips on how to respect the wildlife while on a hike.
Respect the Wild: Leave No Trace and Protect Wildlife on the Trail
Now that you know how to mitigate and prevent hazards on the trail
Find out how to carry out first aid for injuries and illnesses while on a hike.
