Backpacking MB Question... Solo?

[AquilaNegra2]

Received an interesting question from a 17 year old who is working on the badge --

Can he count backpacking trips that are done ALONE, as long as he has documentation/photos? He wants to make a couple of the trips by himself; parents are fine with it.

I don't see anything in the requirements that would exclude that, but haven't run across it before. Feedback appreciated.

[FrankJ]

Hiking alone is kinda like alcohol stoves. Not really for everybody. But there are a lot of people out there doing it safely. If that scout already doing it, I would concentrate on making sure he has the skill set and understands the extra preparation required. The minimum crew size in a boy scout context is 4, but requirement 10) does not say anything about crew size, so I would accept alone, especially if they were already done it. I would also spend a lot of time on 3.C (Mitigating risks) For future hikes, I would strongly recommend that he take a buddy & make sure his parents understand that he is hiking as an individual & not a boy scout.

A side note, a lot of public lands require some one in the crew to be 18+ for overnights. He should at be made aware of that as well.

[Quailman]

I agree with Frank's comment about risk mitigation. In my early 20's I did a lot of backpacking, both solo and with one to five other hikers. There are certain intangible factors that I always kept in mind when alone. Not crossing the fast-flowing stream on that shaky log is an obvious one that comes to mind. I didn't do much glissading when alone either.

And everyone knows why you should never go hiking alone in bear country.

[razor_strop]

And everyone knows why you should never go hiking alone in bear country.

Just one hiker isn't enough to satisfy a hungry bear?

[FrankJ]

Thought the rule was to make sure you are not the slowest one of your crew in bear country

[smtroop168]

It's up to the MBC under the MB process.

This is interesting though as it begs the question on if a MB is a Scouting Activity and therefore the G2SS applies w.r.t the Sweet Sixteen.

[Quailman]

Thought the rule was to make sure you are not the slowest one of your crew in bear country

Exactly! The reason not to enter bear country alone is so that you do not need to outrun the bear.

It's akin to carrying a knife and having a buddy while scuba diving (when a shark approaches, cut your buddy and swim like the devil).

4.Do the following:
a.Describe the importance of using Leave No Trace principles while backpacking, and at least five ways you can lessen the crew’s impact on the environment.

One way to lessen the crew's impact is to be a crew of one. Otherwise, there's no mention of having multiple members on a trek.

[WeeWillie]

The Buddy System is one of the Sweet 16 procedures outlined in the G2SS. Please make the case why it shouldn't be applied to Backpacking MB. Just because it doesn't say you can't do something doesn't mean you should. Is being macho worth the MB?

In the last few months Scouting incidents have made the national news. The latest was a lost 12 year old Scout last week. He was lucky. He built a shelter and waited to be found. Last month a Scout and Leader died because they were boating and hit a submerged rock. The lake had signs clearly recommending no night boating. When we follow what we are taught the outcomes are generally positive, when we don't they can be deadly.

Every few weeks Cochise County Search and Rescue is called out to rescue lost or injured hikers, campers and backpackers. Most are successful. Most instances where the victim died, he or she was solo.

If the scout in question gets hurt or dies on his solo Backpack MB requirement how will you respond to the news reporters or lawyers who ask why didn't you follow the G2SS?

If he wants to go solo backpacking, he can wait a few more months.

[FrankJ]

Duh. You cannot do solo back packing in a scouting context. Rather or not a youth goes solo backpacking outside of scouting is between him and his parent. Personally I would not recommend it for a youth. But if he did and met a merit badge requirement I would accept it. I would respond to the reporter and lawyers by saying he was not backpacking as boy scout activity. The same answer I would give the same hypothetical lawyer or reporter if the scout was visiting a national monument for Cit in nation and was robbed & killed.

[Quailman]

Received an interesting question from a 17 year old who is working on the badge --

Can he count backpacking trips that are done ALONE, as long as he has documentation/photos? He wants to make a couple of the trips by himself; parents are fine with it.

I don't see anything in the requirements that would exclude that, but haven't run across it before. Feedback appreciated.

WeeWillie: The scout said he wants to do some solo backpacking. His parents are fine with it. If he's going to do it anyway, would you count it towards a requirement? To avoid concerns about bad publicity should something happen to him, maybe AquilaNegra2 should advise him to not wear any clothes or insignia that could identify him as a scout if the unthinkable happens. He should also remind him of the buddy system.

[WeeWillie]

The purpose of our outdoor skills MBs is to promote safe skills. Solo backpacking is high risk. I would not approve an activity that I would not perform myself and I have vastly more experience and maturity (20 years Scouting and 20 years US Army) than a 17 year old.

Just because the Scout and his parents are OK with it does not mean that a MBC should endorse high risk activities just because a Scout is going to do it anyway.

[FrankJ]

There is a difference in endorsing something rather than accepting something that meets the requirement as written. Maybe you should suggest to the merit badge gurus to change the requirement to With a buddie... Would be a good change.

Philmont rangers routinely hike solo after they drop off their crews--Either back to base camp or to a pick up point. So rather than saying something is high risk and categorically denying any discussion , maybe it would be better to discuss the risk and how to mitigate then.

[smtroop168]

merit.badge@scouting.org

This is a "can he do it" - yes
Should he do it - maybe not
If you are the MBC and uncomfortable, tell him to ask his SM for another MBC

Also you will notice that there are no buddy restrictions on Hiking or Cycling either.

[AquilaNegra2]

Thanks for the input. I think I'm going to go ahead and allow it, with the understanding that it's not a BSA trip. His plan looks good, and it's a rails-to-trails rather than backcountry.

[SoCal76]

is it the John Wayne Trail

[AquilaNegra2]

No, but that would be a good one. Can't recall the exact name at the moment, but it goes by Rainbow Falls State Park.

[SoCal76]

I think I found it... Willapa Hill Trail

Hopefully, it's near civilization, well-traveled, and has cell phone coverage.