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Spring Basic Backpacking
Feb 28-29, 2020
Winter Basic Backpacking
TBD, 2020
Desert Basic Backpacking
TBD 2020
Basic Backpacking
Learn the skills you need to take your scouts into the wild with confidence.
The course is organized around three components:
1. Classroom session focused on deep content (Friday evening / Saturday)
2. "In the field" map & compass day hike
3. Overnight backpacking trek with fellow classmates & a HAT Instructor
Syllabus
Adult Leadership
Bear Management
Clothing
Low Impact Camping
Mountain Medicine
Places To Go
Scout's Own
Stoves
Tents
Camps & Parks Guide
Backpacks
Boots
Food Planning
Map & Compass
Physical Conditioning
Putting It All Together
Sleeping Bags
Ten Essentials
Wilderness Survival
HAT Awards
John's Meadow, San Gorgonio Wilderness
Cottonwood Lakes/ Horseshoe Meadow Award
Sponsoring Council
Western Los Angeles County Council
Award Dimensions
3” DIA
Summary
This award consists of a main patch and six rockers. The main patch must be earned first and the rockers are earned in pairs of the pass and the corresponding peak. The uniqueness of the peak awards is based around the lack of defined trails to the peaks. There is considerable skill and knowledge of the territory/ environment required to achieve these awards. The base elevation is around 10,000 feet and all the appropriate high altitude preparations must be made. This award can be earned retroactively (2000) and over a period of 5 years for the rockers.
Cottonwood Lakes/ Horseshoe Meadow award is earned by camping a minimum of 2 nights and hiking a minimum of 10 miles. A combination of nights is allowed at either camping location. Treks to the peaks can be used for the mileage requirement on the main patch
Map Link (where applicable)
External Reference (where applicable)
Detailed Requirements
1. Meet all applicable General Requirements.
2. Leader or another 21 yrs old adult going on trip have completed the Basic Backpack Awareness Course.
3. Each participant must have:
a. Current physical (6 months of less) and current BSA medical forms
b. completed a minimum of 2 training hikes, both of which should be above 7000 ft
4. Cottonwood Lakes/ Horseshoe Meadow award is earned by camping a minimum of 2 nights and hiking a minimum of 10 miles. A combination of nights is allowed at either camping location. Treks to the peaks can be used for the mileage requirement on the main patch
a. Trail Pass and Trail Peak rockers. This segment is considered the easiest of the group and can be achieved as a day hike from Horseshoe meadows campground.
b. Cottonwood Pass and Cirque Peak. This segment requires an overnighter at Chicken Springs lake after having hiked Cottonwood Pass.
c. Army Pass and Mt. Langley Peak. This segment requires an overnighter at any of the 5 cottonwood lakes and is the most challenging. Langley is amongst the 9 peaks surrounding Mt. Whitney that are above 14,000 ft