NATIONAL FOREST HIKING AWARDS

The former Old Baldy Council (presently CIEC) High Adventure Team developed this award for units who enjoy camping and exploring our national forests, but do not necessarily participate in backpacking. Units may also use this award for Scouts who are working on the hiking merit badge.

Requirements:

1. Comply with GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

2. Complete a day hike of at least 10 miles in anyone of the four National Forests in the Southern California area.

3. Carry a daypack containing the ten essentials and sufficient water for the time of the year.

4. Keep a journal of any significant sights or wildlife seen during the hike. Make a presentation or verbal report to your troop upon completing the hike.

5. Upon completion of the first hike the main patch and appropriate forest strip will be awarded. Thereafter, only the appropriate forest strip will be awarded. The ten and twenty mile strips can be awarded for subsequent hikes in these forests or any other national forest.

6. If a day hike of sufficient length is completed in a national forest other than those shown, the main patch and the ten or twenty-mile strip can be awarded.

7. Units who wish to earn this award on a backpack outing must meet all of the general requirements. Complete an overnight backpack of at least 10 miles without an offset for elevation. For the twenty-mile strip, the backpack must be at least 20 miles with at least one overnight backcountry camp. Three days two nights are recommended.