The next hike for the Hiking merit badge series is scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd. This hike will take us to Medina County, near Chippewa Lake. We will be hiking the Chippewa Inlet Trail, the trails in Buckeye Woods Park, along with the wooded trails in the nearby Schleman Nature Preserve. The Inlet trail follows the Chippewa Inlet stream, so the terrain is pretty level.
We are asking that you please sign up on TroopWebHost, so we know who is planning to attend. We will be hiking in groups of no more than 10 people, two of which need to be an adult. Therefore, we need to know how many scouts will be hiking so that we know how many adults we will need. In order to keep the groups separate, we will be starting/ending the hike from different locations. One of the crews will be meeting at the northern end of the Chippewa Inlet Trail (5803 Lafayette Road, Medina, OH 44256) while the other crew will be meeting near the baseball fields at Buckeye Woods Park (6335 Wedgewood Road, Medina, OH 44256). If there is a need for a third crew, that group will meet at the southern end of the Chippewa Rail Trail (6105 Chippewa Road, Medina, OH 44256). We will let you know a couple of days before the hike which crew you are in. Please arrive by 9:00 AM so that we can get the hike started on time. Our goal is to finish the hike, and be back at the parking lots, around 2:30 PM.
All Scouts in Troop 701 are welcome to participate in the hike. However, please keep in mind that hikes of this length demand endurance and physical fitness. Additionally, Scouts participating in the 2021 Philmont trek are asked to hike at least 50 miles with the merit badge group. All miles hiked count towards your Boot Club awards!
Remember to carry a full daypack with two quarts of water, trail snacks and a lunch, rain gear, spare socks and gloves, and other essentials. As for clothing, it is best to dress in layers, so that you can remove some while hiking if you become too warm. Don’t forget to also wear a stocking cap and warm gloves. Please wear comfortable hiking footwear and hiking socks as well, as the trails may be muddy. It is recommended that you bring a plastic bag to put your muddy boots in before you get in your car to go home. Also, everyone must wear a mask or face covering during the hike.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We hope you will be able to join us!
