Hike #12 & #13 Crowders / Uwharrie

 Troop 288 Hiking Merit Badge 2018
Hike #12 (15 miler) - Crowders Ridgeline Trail 
Hike #13 (20 miler) - Uwharrie/Dutchman's Creek Trails
Hike #12 - 3 October 2020, 09:00 - 15:30
Hike #13 - 17 October 2020, 07:00 - 17:00

Four Scouts are walking a little taller, at least figuratively speaking until their sore feet and legs recover, from completing the required 15 and 20 mile hikes, both in October 2020! They were up for the challenge to complete the final requirements for the Hiking Merit Badge.

Scouts Matthew M. (Star), Peyton N. (Second Class), Gavin S. (Second Class) and Ethan S. (Tenderfoot) with the help from James K. (Hiking MB '20), worked to prepare a hike plan that was both challenging and fun. The hiking merit badge requires a scout to complete a total of at least 70 miles, of which the scout needs to know and understand hike safety, terrain, weather, gear, hydration, nutrition, and mental perseverance!

Rocks on rocks on rocks! The miles were made a little longer with rugged terrain on the Crowder's Pinnacle and Ridgeline trails and the Uwharrie / Dutchman's Creek trails. And at times the hills were steep and never ending. But good planning and some mental toughness got them to the top of the hiking merit badge!

While challenges were overcome to complete the hiking merit badge for these four scouts, the journey does not end. This simply equips them with the confidence to explore ever more trails and adventures as other scouts have done before them and they too shall pass on the knowledge to future scouts working on their hiking merit badge!