Hiking Honor

Recreational Activities

Requirements

  1. Explain why the points below are considered important during a hike:
    • Appropriate stride
    • Speed
    • Rest interval
    • Rules of conduct
    • Care for nature

    Answer: 1) Appropriate stride: taking short, regular steps saves energy, maintains balance, and reduces the risk of sprains, allowing you to walk longer without becoming exhausted. 2) Speed: maintaining a constant pace (about 4 to 5 km/h on flat terrain), adjusted to the slowest member of the group, avoids premature fatigue and keeps everyone together. 3) Rest interval: stopping about 10 minutes every hour of hiking restores strength, hydrates, and prevents injuries and exhaustion. 4) Rules of conduct: keeping silent in the woods, obeying the guide, and walking in order ensure the group's safety and respect for the environment. 5) Care for nature: not leaving trash, not collecting plants, and not disturbing the wildlife preserves the environment for those who come after, following the principle of stewardship of creation. — Hiking follows the 7 Leave No Trace principles (created by the LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics, 1994): plan ahead, travel on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize fire, respect wildlife, and be considerate of other visitors. In national parks, respecting marked trails avoids soil erosion.

  2. Explain why it is important to take care of your feet. What influence do cleanliness, trimmed and clean nails, socks, and footwear have?

    Answer: Cleanliness prevents ringworm. Short nails prevent ingrowing. Cotton socks absorb sweat (polyester reduces blisters). Footwear with one finger's space at the tip prevents friction and nail loss on the way down. — Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) affects 15% of the population. Long nails break on descents and turn purple (subungual hematoma). Coolmax/Merino socks are better than cotton (cotton gets soaked). Footwear should have a proper insole for the arch of the foot. Changing socks on a long hike reduces blisters by 70%.

  3. What first aid should be given to a foot with blisters?

    Answer: Small: clean with saline and cover with a hydrocolloid. Large: sterilize a needle, pierce the base, drain without removing the skin, antiseptic, and dressing. Change the sock. — Blisters form from repeated friction. A hydrocolloid (Cica-care, Compeed) accelerates healing and absorbs exudate. The skin of the blister protects against infection — do not remove it. Signs of infection: redness, pus, heat (seek a doctor). Prevention: lubricate your feet with petroleum jelly before the trail, wear two thin socks.

  4. Make a list of the clothing and footwear appropriate for a hike:
    • Hot weather
    • Cold weather
    • Rainy weather

    Answer: 1) Hot weather: light, lightweight clothing with UV protection (UPF), a cap or wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and ventilated hiking footwear; bring plenty of water. 2) Cold weather: dress in 3 layers (thermal underneath, fleece in the middle, and a windbreaker on the outside), a beanie, gloves, and thick socks; closed, waterproof footwear. 3) Rainy weather: a waterproof rain jacket, a cover for the backpack, and rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots, avoiding hypothermia and blisters from the moisture. — The 3-layer system: base (synth/wool, wicks away sweat); mid (fleece/down, insulates heat); outer (Gore-Tex, blocks wind/rain). UV-A causes cancer; UPF 30+ blocks 97%. A hiking boot covers 30 km at an Adventist camp. Cotton is forbidden in the cold (it holds sweat and causes hypothermia).

  5. Make a list of the material needed for a hike in a wilderness area for:
    • 24-hour hike
    • 12-hour hike
    • 6-hour hike

    Answer: 1) 24-hour hike: everything taken on the 12h hike plus a tent, sleeping bag, stove/freeze-dried food, a change of clothes, and a GPS, since it requires an overnight stay and full autonomy. 2) 12-hour hike: everything taken on the 6h hike plus hot food, a knife, and a compass, due to the longer duration and the need for a complete meal. 3) 6-hour hike: water (about 2L), a snack, a flashlight, a hat, repellent, sunscreen, and a map, sufficient for a short daytime outing. — The Ten Essentials principle (Mountaineers, 1930): 1) navigation 2) hydration 3) nutrition 4) sun 5) shelter 6) first aid 7) fire 8) tool 9) illumination 10) insulation. For 24h, a sleep system (-2°C) and a kitchen are added. A whistle saves lives in a situation of getting lost.

  6. List at least five safety rules during a hike, and cite some special precautions in the following places:
    • Trails
    • Highways
    • Urban area
    • Rural area
    • Road
    • Uninhabited area
    • Forests

    Answer: Five safety rules: always walk with company, tell someone the route and the expected time, bring a first-aid kit, respect the group's pace, and know the map/route well. Special precautions by location: 1) Trails: mark and follow the signposted path, do not separate from the group or cut across to avoid getting lost. 2) Highways: walk on the left shoulder (facing traffic), wear a reflective vest, and cross only in a safe place. 3) Urban area: use crosswalks and sidewalks, obey the signage, and watch the traffic. 4) Rural area: beware of loose dogs, fences, pasture animals, and gates; ask permission to cross properties. 5) Road: walk in single file along the edge, with extra attention on curves and at night, use a flashlight and visible clothing. 6) Uninhabited area: bring a GPS, compass, and charged radio/cell phone, extra water, and inform others of the route, since there is no nearby help. 7) Forests: respect the wildlife and flora, use repellent, observe markings so as not to get lost, and beware of venomous animals. — Traffic law (CTB Art. 70) requires a pedestrian on the road to use the shoulder. On a BR highway, flows are on the right, so a pedestrian on the left avoids being hit from behind. ABNT NBR 15331 standardizes Brazilian trails. National parks (Petar, Itatiaia) require an accredited guide on long trails.

  7. Explain the importance of drinking water.

    Answer: It replaces sweat loss (up to 1L/h in heat). It prevents dehydration, hyperthermia, and cramps. 2-3L/day on the trail. Signs: dark urine, fatigue, dizziness. Drink sips every 15-20 min. — The human body is 60% water. A loss of 2% causes dizziness; 5% causes collapse; 10% can kill. Electrolytes (sodium, potassium) are also lost in sweat — isotonic drinks help on trails >2h. Stream water should be boiled, filtered (Sawyer), or treated with hypochlorite before drinking.

  8. Explain the importance of eating properly during a hike.

    Answer: Keeping blood sugar stable avoids fatigue. Carbohydrates (bread, granola) give quick energy; proteins (nuts) are more filling. Small portions every 1-2h; avoid heavy fat. — A 4h hike burns ~400-500 kcal/h. Muscle glycogen runs out in ~90 min of exercise. The 'bonk' is the wall of fatigue when glycogen is depleted. Dried fruit, a nut mix, dark chocolate, and cereal bars are ideal snacks. Hot food on an overnight stay replenishes energy and morale.

  9. Make a plan for a 16-kilometer hike to hand in to your instructor. Include in the plan:
    • Map with details of the route
    • List of equipment
    • Clothing
    • Amount of food and water
    • First aid posts in case of emergency (police, emergency room, etc.)
    • Estimated time for the route and estimated time of arrival

    Answer: Route map; a 30L backpack with water, a snack, a kit, a flashlight; clothing by weather; 1500 kcal in 3 snacks; time 4h (16 km at 4 km/h); phone numbers (190, 192). — Standard calculation: 4-5 km/h on flat terrain; 2-3 km/h going up; a 10-min break per hour. 16 km takes 4h30-5h. Emergency lines: SAMU 192, Highway Police 191, Fire Department 193. Apps like Wikiloc, Strava, and AllTrails help with prior planning. Always leave the plan with someone at home.

  10. Do the following hikes:
    • 8 kilometers in a rural or urban area
    • 8 kilometers along a trail in a wooded, forest, or scrubland region
    • 2 hikes of 16 kilometers on different routes and dates
    • 24 kilometers along a trail in a wooded, forest, or scrubland region

    Answer: A total of 72 km in 5 progressive hikes. Start with the 8 km, then 16 km (different dates/routes), finish with 24 km. Document each one with date, route, time, and photos. — A total of 72 km is equivalent to ~5 marathons (a marathon is 42 km). Progressive training: 8→16→24 avoids injuries. The SAD's Youth Camp has official trails (2 days) that fulfill multiple requirements. A diary with kml/GPX (Garmin Connect, Strava) generates verifiable official proof.

  11. Dates
  12. Topographic or road map with details of the route

    Answer: An IBGE topographic map 1:50,000 or a road map (Google). Mark the start, finish, stops, emergency points, and water. Note the GPS of critical points. Bring it printed + a backup on the cell phone. — A topographic map shows contour lines (relief). Each line has an elevation (altitude). A road map focuses on roads and cities. IBGE offers free maps at www.ibge.gov.br. Wikiloc has 4 million trails worldwide. AllTrails Pro allows offline download and map printing.

  13. Hiking time

    Answer: Note the departure time, arrival, breaks, total time, and moving time. Calculate the average speed. The Strava or Garmin Connect apps time it automatically. Compare planned vs. actual. — Total time includes breaks; moving time is only of movement. The average hiker: 4-5 km/h flat, 3-4 uphill, 5-6 downhill. Breaks should add up to 10-15% of the total. Strava records the trail in real time with cadence, heart rate, and altimetry. The Apple Watch and Garmin Fenix are standards in the outdoors.

  14. Weather conditions

    Answer: Temperature at the start and finish, humidity, wind (direction/strength), rain (intensity/duration), and cloudiness. Check INMET beforehand; in the mountains it drops 6°C every 1000m. — INMET (the National Institute of Meteorology) has a bulletin by region. The forecast is reliable up to 72h. The Beaufort wind scale goes from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane); >5 is uncomfortable on a trail. Heavy rain cancels a trail due to the risk of lightning. UV peaks 10am-3pm; SPF 50+ is recommended at altitude.

  15. Interesting considerations

    Answer: Difficulties (terrain, fatigue), reflections, lessons learned, team, equipment, technical problems (blister, GPS without signal), and solutions applied. Photos/video enrich it. — Reflection is part of the classic travel diary (Captain Cook, Darwin, Saint-Exupéry). Lessons learned generate the 'PDCA' effect (Plan-Do-Check-Act) — the Pathfinder improves with each trail. The team can include an assessment of leadership, communication, and cooperation in the unit group.

  16. Interesting points observed

    Answer: Landscapes (waterfall, lookout), wildlife sighted, typical flora, geological formations (caves), historical/cultural heritage, and local curiosities. Photos and GPS enrich the record. — Brazil has 73 National Parks. The maned wolf, tapir, and jaguar are iconic wildlife of the Cerrado. Brazilwood, ipê, jequitibá in the Atlantic Forest. The iNaturalist app identifies species by photo via AI. Heritage: the Drovers' Road, the Royal Road, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

  17. If possible, a photo of the group that participated at interesting points

    Answer: Take a group photo at lookouts, waterfalls, and monuments. Identify the location, date, and participants in the caption. Attach 3-5 photos to the report with a contextual description of each one. Ask the parents of minors for consent to use the image. — The ECA (Law 8,069/90, Art. 17) protects the image of minors. The LGPD (Law 13,709/2018) requires authorization for publication. A group photo in scouting is a century-old tradition — Baden-Powell recorded camps. Apps like Google Photos categorize automatically by location.