Nice Job DUG! It was hiking with scouts in the San Gabriels that gave me the hiking/backpacking bug. You are doing a great service for these boys. My father passed away before I was 2 and the two of the fathers from my scout troop are still mentors to me after 30+ years.
Also, I was trying to remember if there used to be a 50 miles in one hike requirement to get the hiking badge back in the 70's?
Gary
Gary - There is a 50 mile Biking/Canoeing/Hiking patch a scout can earn. You pick your mode of transportation and after filling out a plan, etc do your miles. The only CATCH is - it's FIVE days. We would have knocked it out this summer if it weren't for that. We are thinking now of leaving after work/school and getting 5 miles in before setting up camp. Then 2 15 miles days and a 14 mile day. Last night on the trail we cowboy camp until 0100 and walk the last mile out. Kinda cheating, but if I think if we hike during five days on the calander and get 50 miles, we should be legal. The PCT in our area would be perfect for that. We were kinda thinking Idyllwild south on the PCT. Might have to throw in some side trips to get the miles up there, but we can bag some peaks on the way.
The whole hike last Saturday my son was the last boy in line, hiking just in front of the other leader. After 14 miles of this I asked him why he was dragging behind everyone else. Turns out he was working on one if his last advancement requirements - IDing 10 native plants.
I'm actually doing double duty - I'm a cubmaster for a brand new pack nearby. They just started up and no one had any idea how the program worked so I said I would give them a year. It's rewarding, but it keeps the schedule full. Over the summer it was crazy trying to get even a 1/2 day to spend with my wife. In April they are on there own, but they'll be ready...................................DUG
