Hike Planning

Hiking Trip Plan

A trip plan prepares you for the challenges of a hike. Take a copy of your trip plan with you and leave one with your parents or other adult. The parts of a trip plan are:

• WHERE are you going? Decide on your destination and the route you will travel to reach it and return. For backcountry trips, include a copy of the map with your route marked in pencil.

• WHEN will you return? If you are not back reasonably close to the time on your trip plan, someone can take steps to locate you and provide assistance if needed.

• WHO is going on the hike? List the names of your hiking partners. Write down who will transport you to the trailhead, if required.

• WHY are you going? Going fishing, climbing a mountain, exploring a new area are all good reasons for a hike. Write a couple sentences about the purpose of your trip.

• WHAT are you taking? Carry the Scout outdoor essentials and list other equipment and clothing you will need.

• HOW will you respect the land by using Leave No Trace hiking skills?

Hiking Trip Plan (pdf) 

Naismith's Rule

The Naismith's rule is a rule of thumb was devised by William W. Naismith, a Scottish mountaineer, in 1892.

• Allow one hour for every 3 miles (5 km) forward, plus an additional hour for every 2,000 feet (600 m) of ascent.

• 1 hour / 3 miles (5 km)  +  1 hour / 2000 feet (600 m)

This rule can be tailed to your crew based on load, terrain and ability of individual Scouts and Adults.

Mr B Rules

Pavement 10-miles and greater and Trail Hiking

• US Army standard is 4 miles per hour 

  • Scouts are NOT in the Army, nor are most of our Adult Leaders

• The average walking speed on a trail is 2.5 miles per hour

• Plan for 2 miles per hour for younger Scouts  

• Plan for 3 miles per hour for rabbits on hikes 

• Be prepared to run an entire 20-miler if you want to keep up with the lead Scout team

Kinds of Hiking

If you think hiking just means following a trail around your favorite Scout camp, think again. There are all sorts of hikes you can take.

• Urban Hiking – Of all Scouting adventures, city hikes can be among the most interesting and easiest to plan. Set a course that will take you through parts of town you would like to see, or to a zoo, an exhibit, a museum, or a historical site.

• Back-roads Hiking – America’s quiet back roads can offer miles of wonderful hiking. They may lead through farm fields, hug riverbanks, drift along in a shady forest, or head out into open prairie.

• Snow Hiking – A winter hike can be a terrific way to enjoy cold-weather adventures. Remember that territory familiar in the summer can look very different when it is blanketed with snow.

• RocksTundra Hiking – Hike high enough in mountainous regions, and you will reach an elevation where conditions are too harsh for forests to survive. A tundra hike can take you up among the summits and surround you with tremendous scenery.

• Desert Hiking – Hiking across arid country will bring you close to remarkable vegetation, wildlife, and land formations. Consider doing desert hiking in the early morning and evening; spend the hottest part of the day relaxing in the shade.

• Cross-country Hiking – Cross-country hiking invites you to escape everything made by humans, trails included. You might cross a river or a lakeshore beach, or the crest of a hill. Or your way might be determined by a series of compass readings and a map to keep your bearings.

• Night Hiking – The world looks very different at night. Some animals are more active, and the sky can be ablaze with stars. Night hiking lets you explore this altered world.

• Trail Hiking – Scouts do much of their hiking on trails. They may choose pathways leading deep into the backcountry, or shorter routes connecting points of interest in a Scout camp or a city. A trail can lead to a mountaintop, a lake, a neighborhood park, or a prairie.

Long Distance Hiking Technique

Long distance hiking requires a buildup/trainup.  Don't expect new Scouts to be able to handle a super long hike without any previous experience, regardless of how motivated they are.  A big part of having a successful long distance outing is to plan ahead and have several   up sessions.  This will iron out many wrinkles and test to see which Scout are going to be ready for the "big" outing. 

There are also techniques to hiking that should be learned to improve long distance treks. 

Taken from Special Forces Assessment and Selection Handbook:

• Weight of body must be kept directly over feet, the sole of the shoe must be placed flat on ground by taking small steps at a steady pace.

• Knee must be locked on every step in order to rest muscles of the legs (especially when going uphill).

• When walking cross-country, step over/around obstacles; never step on them.

• When traveling up steep slopes, always traverse them; climb in zigzag pattern rather than straight up.

• When descending steep slopes, keep the back straight and knees bent to take the shock of each step. Do not lock knees. Dig in with heels on each step.

• Practice walking as fast as you can with a rucksack. Do not run with a rucksack as you may injure yourself. When tested you may have to trot, but try not to during training.

• A good hiking pace is accomplished by continuous movement with short breaks (5 min) every 6-8 miles, or every hour in hot weather.

• If you cannot hike then do squats with your rucksack (100 repetitions five times or until muscle failure). To avoid injury to your knees, squat only to the point where the upper and lower leg form a 90 degree bend at the knee.

Source: goarmysof.army.mil