Cheryl Talbert
While you're waiting to get back out on the trail solo, with family, or with your favorite Mountaineers backpacking buddies, check out these opportunities to get credit for your backpacking skills and experience with one of these fun badges for your Mountaineers profile!
Basic & Advanced Backpacking Skills Badges
The Basic and Advanced Backpacking Skills badges mark your Mountaineers profile with the level of backpacking skills that you have obtained through your experience and any courses or seminars you might have completed with the Mountaineers or elsewhere!
Recipients of the Basic Backpacking Skills badge must demonstrate basic backpacking knowledge, either through lectures/seminars or equivalent experience.
Recipients of the Advanced Backpacking Skills badge must demonstrate not only a grasp of the Basic Backpacking Skills but also must have planned and participated in at least three successful backpacking trips within the previous two calendar years, of which at least one trip is two nights or more, and must have completed a field navigation class and an outdoor-oriented first aid class within the past three years, or can clearly demonstrate these competencies from other sources.
If you have taken a backpacking course with the Mountaineers you will generally be granted at least the basic backpacking skills badge, and if the course includes a backpacking trip requirement you may also receive the Advanced Backpacking Skills badge. Check to see if you might already have one of these badges from one of your courses before you apply!
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL MILEAGE BADGES!
To honor the amazing resource that is the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT), check out these award badges, available to Mountaineers members from any branch for hiking, backpacking or snowshoeing 50 or more miles of the PCT in Washington State! Find more information about how to qualify and/or apply for the relevant distance badge at the links below.
