1.  The Pacific Crest Trail Backpacking Award will be awarded to Scouts and Scouters at the completion of an overnight backpack on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT). The “San Diego County” strip and one of eight PCT strips for the county sections may also be awarded at the completion of the first backpack. Additional county PCT strips may be awarded at the completion of additional backpacks.

2.  It shall be an overnight backpack of 15 or more miles in two consecutive days, camping at least 2 hours from either end of the trail.

3.  A one hour service project must be completed during the backpack to qualify for the basic patch and county strip, and each of the eight San Diego County strips.

A 20 mile day hike from the International Border to Lake Morena may be substituted for an overnight backpack on the PCT in San Diego County.

Hikes may be completed in either direction and do not have to be completed in any sequence to earn the individual strips.

There is no time limit for earning this award and any of the strips. The patch and the strips cannot be earned for backpacks completed before October 1, 2012.