Backpacking

I revised the Backpacking merit when I taught it because I wanted to teach more than packs and shoes.  
For a long time now the boys have asked gear questions so I took this opportunity to talk more specifically about gear, and also about hiking food.

So with all of that came some material that may be of help for you.

Lesson Schedule
Merit Sheet
Weight, Packs, Boots
10 C's
Food on the Trail

new 10/8/13: Hiking Booklet
And due to similarity of content, this of course could be used for the Hiking and Advanced Backpacking merits

SWEEEET!

I can use that in the years to come

[quote="strods"]I revised the Backpacking merit when I taught it because I wanted to teach more than packs and shoes.
For a long time now the boys have asked gear questions so I took this opportunity to talk more specifically about gear, and also about hiking food.

So with all of that came some material that may be of help for you.

Lesson Schedule
Merit Sheet
Weight, Packs, Boots
10 C's
Food on the Trail

And due to similarity of content, this of course could be used for the Hiking and Advanced Backpacking merits[/quote
you certainly have a wealth of information here, that's really cool. Thanks

Looks good!

The backpacking merit is indeed lacking in many ways. I would like to see the hiking merit info being added to the backpacking merit. Yup it would duplicate but folks that's how we learn. One and done rarely teaching anything except for a patch collection grows. We learn by repetition and frequency.

I would rather be good at a few things than just have a lot of patches that I don't remember much about them.

Mark Jones

Instead of duplicating why not make Hiking a prereq for Backpacking?

I just assumed it kind of was. Maybe not officially, but just logically.

Check the Backpacking merit it'll state the prereqs if any up top.

I got a kick out of one of the moms on one of the earliest forums. She said that hiking was walking what do you need to know. GRIN!

After a good laugh and a comment or two that some folks think that walking 55 miles in the city park on paved roads with a water fountain every 300 feet and nice signs might be missing the point..

While it is true that one must walk when they hike. Only a fool goes walking down these trails down here. GRIN! I have even gotten turned around a time or two before GPS units were here.

So many things a person needs to know and learn to be a good backpacker and hiker. People die from exposure each year on a hike that they were not prepared for.

It's good to refresh and to duplicate and repeat any training that is most likely going to be needed at some point or another.

We seldom hear of the people that are prepared because they are prepared most make it out...we often hear of those that are not prepared. They make the news. It's good to teach something that matters.

Mark Jones

I definitely agree hiking is so much more than walking. Its trails, no man made pollutions, and just God's green earth. You need to know to prepare for the "walk" proper shoes, first aid for blisters, compass, orienteering, dress for weather, etc.

I need a good pair of boots...

RRCmdrBennett wrote:Instead of duplicating why not make Hiking a prereq for Backpacking?  

In our outpost it is. I'm a believer in the prereq concept. I think too much in life let anything go without putting the time or effort in.

Also, fyi added a booklet

We are heading next weekend on a trail I haven't been on in 10 years. I remember a boy crying on the way out because his backpack was toooo heavy.

I was told the trail had a 200 foot drop over a mile and a half... Grin. You have to appreciate the accracy of a 19 year old. It had 1100 foot of drop over a 2.37 mile loop..and we had to walk back up that.

I spent 600.00 on a GPS unit and mapping software after that. Now I look the trail over virtually before we go. GRIN! Even my first GMA let me down on that report...GRIN!

We will backpack in but put base camp up on top of the Boston Mountain range mountain in Arkansas. Then day hike the 1100 foot trail down and back up. No backpacks this time. It will still be a work out. Yet doable.

Mark Jones