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Backpacker Magazine – September 2009
Could you earn a merit badge in wilderness travel? Better ace this test, taken straight from the Scouts' own backpacking manual.
Hunter Wilson)"
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1. The "Hypothermia Challenge" is:
a. A cold-water immersion test held at the annual National Scout Jamboree. Winners earn the Polar Bear Merit Badge.
b. A winter version of the Pinewood Derby in which contestants race homemade cars on frozen lakes
c. A test to determine if hypothermia is a risk: Can you walk heel-to-toe on a 30-foot line scratched into the ground?
2. True or False? In a thunderstorm, taking shelter in a steel-framed building is your safest choice.
3. Which one of the following is not a sign of dehydration?
a. headache
b. confusion
c. profuse sweating
d. fatigue
4. Avalanches occur most frequently on slopes that are between ___ and ____ degrees.
5. Which one of the following is not a designated role on a Scout backpacking trip? a. navigator
b. sweep
c. chef
d. pacesetter
6. Heatstroke occurs when a person's core temperature rises higher than:
a. 98°F
b. 101°F
c. 105°F
d. 108°F
7. Which snake color pattern is dangerous?
a. Red on yellow
b. Red on black
8. In cold weather, grayish-white patches of skin indicate frostbite has already set in. Or is it frostnip?
9. On a topographic map, the color purple:
a. Designates manmade structures–buildings, bridges, railroads, etc.
b. Shows revisions that are based on aerial photos.
c. Indicates areas with high concentrations of seasonal wildflowers.
10. Scouting began in which country:
a. Canada
b. South Africa
c. United States
d. England
11. You're lost in the backcountry. You should...
a. Use thumbnail navigation. It will get you back to your last known location.
b. Hike south. Anywhere in the Lower 48, you're sure to cross a road within 10 miles.
c. Stay put, make your team comfortable, and wait for rescue.
12. True or false? Mild electric shock (such as from a car battery) is an effective method of treating a snakebite.
13. Leave No Trace guidelines say your dishwashing site should be how many feet from streams, lakes, or rivers? a. 100
b. 200
c. 200, downwind
d. 300 from camp
How'd you do? Check the answers and scoring key.

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READERS COMMENTS
Slopes greater than 70 degrees are less prone to avalanche because they are so steep, the snow that falls on them slides down naturally as it falls, preventing the buildup of enough snow to avalanche in the first place.
Posted: Oct 05, 2009 Steve-o
Number 17----I've found over the years that yes, it's 2 mph when you first start out, but by the end of a long trek (a.k.a. philmont) you will be pretty close to 3. Also, you can never go faster than your scoutmaster, so is that answer correct? YES!
Posted: Oct 04, 2009 Jacob Mullen-Eagle Scout
Number 17----I've found over the years that yes, it's 2 mph when you first start out, but by the end of a long trek (a.k.a. philmont) you will be pretty close to 3. Also, you can never go faster than your scoutmaster, so is that answer correct? YES!
Posted: Oct 04, 2009 Jacob Mullen-Eagle Scout
Posted: Oct 04, 2009 Jacob Mullen
Not sure on #4. Physics seems to indicate that a 70 degree slope would be more prone to avalanches than a 45 or a 60, not to mention greater than 70 degrees. Can anyone explain the 30-40 or 40-60 degree answer?
Posted: Sep 29, 2009 A mature Eagle
How can you not bring enough water for an overnight. You only need 8 cups a day. If you bring one gallon you'll have more than enough.
Posted: Sep 18, 2009 That guy
I want to know why the scout in the photo with the article has such a lame look on his face. He looks completely lost. It certainly does not help the Boy Scouts recruit new members - many of which will grow up to be backpacker readers because of the love of the outdoors the received from scouting.
Posted: Sep 18, 2009 Bill R
I would have to disagree with your correct answer to #21. I can guarantee you filtered water, especially after boiling, is safer and more pure than the water that most municipalities have. Assuming that you take good care of your filter. Sipping water and rationing it is a very good way to get yourself dehydrated.
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 Bryon Freeman
"On #21, how can you possibly bring enough water from home on even an overnight trip? Why don't they teach something practical? Maybe they need to teach boyscouts not to needlessly fire semi-automatic weapons in wilderness areas.
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 SL"
Actually, they do teach them to not needlessly fire ANY weapon in an unsafe manner. But what does that have to do with the quiz?
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 SA
"On #21, how can you possibly bring enough water from home on even an overnight trip? Why don't they teach something practical? Maybe they need to teach boyscouts not to needlessly fire semi-automatic weapons in wilderness areas. "
Maybe you could hold their targets just to make sure they are firing in the right direction. Idiotic comments deserve an idiotic response.
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 SA
"On #21, how can you possibly bring enough water from home on even an overnight trip? Why don't they teach something practical? Maybe they need to teach boyscouts not to needlessly fire semi-automatic weapons in wilderness areas. "
Maybe you could hold their targets just to make sure they are firing in the right direction. Idiotic comments deserve an idiotic response.
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 SA
On #21, how can you possibly bring enough water from home on even an overnight trip? Why don't they teach something practical? Maybe they need to teach boyscouts not to needlessly fire semi-automatic weapons in wilderness areas.
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 SL
england
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 thomas
If you want to know more about Lord Baden Powell read "Two Lives of a Hero". One life as a soldier and one as the original Scout leader.
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 Carl - Used to be an Owl
Yep, it's supposed to be England where Scouts started, not Scotland. Brownsea Island, the first scouting experimental campout, is located off the southern coast of Britain.
By the way, Gilwell Field is inside Gilwell Park, the land donated to the Scouts and where Baden-Powell started the Wood Badge course. That's located in London: Gilwell Park, Epping Forest, London E4, UK
Link: <http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Gilwell+Park,+Epping+Forest,+London+E4,+United+Kingdom&sll=51.650819,0.0036&sspn=0.00227,0.006947&gl=us&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FWgeFAMdKAoAAA&split=0&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A>
Grant F.
Gilwell Troop 1 NE-I-260
Posted: Sep 17, 2009 Grant
Woodbadge was started in Scotland where land was donated to BSA. McClaren (sp) donated the land to Boy Scouts and then was named Gillwell Park. But Baden Powell was from England and served in South Africa. This is where the wooden beads came from that all wood badgers are required to wear. But I do believe you are right Boy Scouts was founded in England after Baden returned home from Africa.
Posted: Sep 15, 2009 Shaun Reeves
Alex is correct!
Posted: Sep 15, 2009 John L
Alex is right Bladen-Powell founded Scouting in Britian.
JD
Life Scout, SPL
Posted: Sep 15, 2009 JD H.
I agree It begain in England.
Eagle Scout
Posted: Sep 15, 2009 Shaun Turner
first i have to agree with alex. scouting started in england with lord baden-powell. who was a general with the brittish army. he got the idea from the boer war in south africa. so baden-powell used his fame to help bpys become better men and to have fun while doing it. so then in 1907 baden-powell invited a group of boys to brownsea island off the coast of england to attend the world's first scout camp. its sucess lead him to writing the book scouting for boys. witch lead the movement of scouts across the world.
Aaron Patterson
Eagle Scout of 2008
Posted: Sep 15, 2009 Aaron Patterson
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