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
Location: Deserts (Mojave, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, etc)
Death Valley National Park
Las Vegas Area Council
1" x 3"
Any of the following hikes may be taken to qualify for the GREAT BASIN SEGMENT. Information may be found in Backpacking Death Valley, by Chuck Gebhardt, or pamphlets, maps, and books from the National Park Service at Death Valley or the Death Valley Natural History Association. Always check in at the Visitors Center for local conditions before starting out.
Mojave Desert
Las Vegas Area Council
3" x 3"
Any of the following hikes may be taken to qualify for the MOJAVE DESERT SEGMENT. The canoe trip does not require the backpack portion of this requirement, but does require an adult with a current CPR card and one night camping at a remote site near the river. Information may be found in pamphlets, maps, and books from the National Park Service and other books. Always check in at the Visitors Centerfor local conditions before starting out.
106-Miler Backpacking Medal
Orange County
Backpack and hike 106 cumulative miles over the course of multiple scouting events.
The purpose of this medal is to motivate scouts who are relatively early in their scouting career with backpacking & hiking. Mileage over the course of several trips quickly adds up, and before too long a scout will be able to proudly wear this "bling" on their uniform.
Why 106 miles? It is half the distance of the iconic John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, symbolizing the scout's achievement and also the fact that many more adventures still await!