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Outdoor Skills Quiz
Bing Hiking Quiz – Test Your Outdoor Knowledge
Pack your bag, pick your path and climb to the summit. This two-stage quiz tests the trail skills that keep hikers safe, from the Ten Essentials to bear encounters and lightning storms.
Hit the trail ↓Hiking is one of the simplest ways to get outdoors: all you really need is a trail and a pair of sturdy shoes. Yet every season, park rangers and search-and-rescue teams respond to hikers who set out unprepared, misjudge the weather or lose the path. A little knowledge goes a long way, and the best hikers are the ones who know what to pack, how to read the trail and when to turn back.
This Bing Hiking Quiz comes in two stages. First, pack your backpack by choosing the real Ten Essentials from a pile of gear. Then hike eight checkpoints, choosing a gentle path for one point or a steep path for two at every fork. The guide that follows covers essential gear, Leave No Trace, navigation, weather, wildlife, trail etiquette and the world’s great long-distance trails, and it includes a handy hiking-time calculator.
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Safety first: this article is general educational information based on guidance from sources such as the U.S. National Park Service, the CDC and the National Weather Service. Conditions vary, so always check local regulations, weather forecasts and park alerts before you go. This independent quiz is not affiliated with Microsoft or Bing.
Mile 0.0 · The quiz
Take the Bing Hiking Quiz
Stage 1: pack your backpack. Each real essential earns a point, each useless item costs one. Stage 2: hike eight checkpoints. At every fork, choose the gentle path (1 point) or the steep path (2 points). Reach the summit with up to 26 points.
Stage 1 · Pack Your Bag
Points: 0 / 26
Mile 0.8 · Gear01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
The Ten Essentials Every Hiker Should Carry
The Ten Essentials began as a list from the Seattle-based climbing club The Mountaineers and is now promoted by the National Park Service. Today it is organized as ten systems rather than ten specific objects, so you can choose gear that suits the trip.
Sun protection
Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat, even on cloudy days.
Extra clothing
Jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell and extra layers.
Illumination
A headlamp or flashlight, with spare batteries.
First aid
A first-aid kit suited to your group and trip length.
Fire
Matches or a lighter and fire starters for emergencies.
Repair kit & tools
Duct tape, knife, multi-tool and scissors.
Nutrition
Extra food beyond what you expect to eat.
Hydration
Water plus a way to treat more along the way.
Emergency shelter
Tent, space blanket, tarp or bivy sack.
Why skip cotton? Cotton soaks up water and loses its insulating value when wet, which is why experienced hikers favor wool or synthetic layers. The CDC notes that hypothermia can develop even at cool temperatures above 40°F (about 4°C) if a person is chilled by rain, sweat or cold water.
Mile 1.5 · Ethics
The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace
Developed and promoted by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, these seven principles help keep trails, campsites and wildlife healthy for everyone who comes after you.
- 1
Plan ahead & prepare
Check weather, rules and trail conditions.
- 2
Travel & camp on durable surfaces
Stay on trails so plants and soil recover.
- 3
Dispose of waste properly
Pack it in, pack it out, including food scraps.
- 4
Leave what you find
Take photos, not rocks, plants or artifacts.
- 5
Minimize campfire impacts
Use a stove when possible; keep fires small and legal.
- 6
Respect wildlife
Watch from a distance and never feed animals.
- 7
Be considerate of others
Keep noise down and share the trail.
Mile 3.1 · HazardsLightning Cold & wet Water Altitude
Weather, Water and Altitude: Staying Safe
When thunder roars
The National Weather Service warns that if you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. No place outside is truly safe; get off ridges and peaks and avoid isolated trees.
Hypothermia
It can happen above freezing when you are wet and windblown. Pack waterproof layers, change out of wet clothes and keep moving or seek shelter.
Treat before you drink
Streams can carry germs. The CDC advises bringing clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet; filters and chemical treatments are other options.
Go up gradually
Headache, nausea and fatigue at high elevation can signal altitude sickness. Ascend slowly, rest and descend if symptoms worsen.
Lost or injured? Stay put if you can, keep warm, and signal for help. Three blasts on a whistle, repeated, is a widely recognized distress signal, and a whistle carries much farther than a shout.
Mile 3.9 · On the trail
Wildlife Encounters and Trail Etiquette
Sharing the wild with animals
- Keep your distance: the National Park Service recommends at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from most other wildlife.
- Never run from a bear: stay calm, stand your ground if it follows, and back away slowly when you can.
- Brown or grizzly bear attack: NPS advice is to play dead, lying flat on your stomach with hands clasped behind your neck.
- Black bear attack: do not play dead. Try to escape to a secure place, or fight back if you cannot.
- Store food properly: use bear canisters or lockers where required, and never feed animals.
Who has the right of way?
- Everyone yields to horses and pack animals; step to the downhill side and speak calmly.
- Cyclists yield to hikers on shared trails.
- Uphill hikers usually have the right of way, since it is harder to restart a climb.
- Keep noise down and let faster groups pass.
Mile 4.6 · Bucket list
Famous Long-Distance Trails Around the World
Thru-hiking a long trail can take weeks or months. These routes appear again and again in outdoor trivia. Distances are approximate and can change as trails are rerouted.
| Trail | Where | Approx. length | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail | Eastern U.S. | About 2,200 mi (3,500 km) | Runs from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine, through 14 states. |
| Pacific Crest Trail | Western U.S. | About 2,650 mi (4,265 km) | Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. |
| Continental Divide Trail | Rocky Mountains, U.S. | About 3,100 mi (5,000 km) | With the AT and PCT, it forms hiking’s “Triple Crown.” |
| Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés) | France & Spain | About 780 km (485 mi) | A historic pilgrimage route ending at Santiago de Compostela. |
| Te Araroa | New Zealand | About 3,000 km (1,860 mi) | Runs the length of both main islands, from Cape Reinga to Bluff. |
| West Highland Way | Scotland | About 154 km (96 mi) | From Milngavie, near Glasgow, to Fort William below Ben Nevis. |
Rest stop
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Mile 5.2 · Summit
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bing Hiking Quiz?
It is a free, two-stage educational quiz about hiking and outdoor safety. You pack a backpack with the Ten Essentials, then answer eight checkpoint questions, choosing an easier or harder question at each fork. It is independent and not affiliated with Microsoft or Bing.
What are the Ten Essentials for hiking?
Navigation, sun protection, extra clothing, illumination, first-aid supplies, fire, a repair kit and tools, extra food, extra water with treatment, and emergency shelter.
What are the seven Leave No Trace principles?
Plan ahead and prepare; travel and camp on durable surfaces; dispose of waste properly; leave what you find; minimize campfire impacts; respect wildlife; and be considerate of others.
What should you do if you see a bear while hiking?
Stay calm, do not run, and give the bear space by backing away slowly. The NPS advises keeping at least 100 yards from bears. Responses to an attack differ by species, so learn the guidance for the area you are visiting.
How long will my hike take?
Naismith’s rule is a classic estimate: about one hour per 5 km (3 miles), plus one hour per 600 m (2,000 ft) of ascent. Add extra time for breaks, rough terrain, weather and your group’s pace.
Is it safe to drink water from streams?
Not without treatment. Streams can contain harmful germs. Boiling is very effective: the CDC recommends a rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet. Filters and chemical treatments are alternatives.
Sources & Further Reading
- National Park Service – The Ten Essentials
- Leave No Trace – The 7 Principles
- National Park Service – Staying Safe Around Bears
- National Park Service – 7 Ways to Safely Watch Wildlife
- National Weather Service – Lightning Safety Tips
- CDC – Preventing Hypothermia
- CDC – Water Treatment When Hiking, Camping or Traveling