Podcast: Download (Duration: 28:17 — 28.7MB)
Today on The First 40 Miles, The Top 5 New Things Heather Wants to Try on a Future Backpacking Trip. The SUMMIT Gear Review will show you the best place to take a nap on the trail. On the Backpack Hack of the Week, we will teach you a paradox of the trail—how to clean with dirt. We’ll share a little redneck style humor and then wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from a man with the longest resume in the west!
Show Notes: Episode 027
Opening
Explosion in interest in backpacking!
- Hollywood
- People are recognizing the benefit of being outdoors, esp for children
- Increase in screen time leaves people craving real experiences
Increase on major trails won’t hinder your ability to have good time on trail
Lots of empty space on lesson known trails
You’ll never stand in line to have a beautiful view
Top 5 Things I Want to Try On a Future Backpacking Trip
Sleeping in a tarp
- Tyvek tarp
- Pyramid set up for 8×10 tarp
Barefoot Hiking
- Xero Shoes: Amuri Z Trek
- Protect and strengthen feet and let your feet develop muscles instead of keeping them bound up with a rigid structure.
- Xero shoes weigh 11.6 oz.
- Ankle strength—is your arm stronger after being in a cast? No.
- No “breaking in” period
- 5000 mile guarantee
Offshoot Hike
- Josh enjoys wandering and exploring, Heather tends to be a homebody
- Explore, wander, unrestricted trail time
Foraging for greens
- Vegetables are such a luxury on the trail. They are low in calories and high in water.
- Backpackers typically don’t carry fresh veggies.
- Greens and wild garlic
- Mushrooms
- Sprouts?
Catch a fish
- $40 fishing license to catch nothing. Wish I lived in the 1800s…
- Children may be able to fish without license
SUMMIT Gear Review™: Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Camp Chairs (Hex 2.0)
Structure
- Foldable Compact Camp Chair that’s ridiculously comfortable, durable and lightweight
- This chair really is the best place to take a nap!!
- Carbon fiber poles inside that keep the back from sagging
- Heavy-duty 2 in. nylon webbing reinforcement offer great support and durability
- Chair weighs only 1 lb. 5 oz. and rolls up to only 4 in. in diameter for convenient carrying on backpacking trips; includes an attached roll-up strap and a hang loop
- 8mm-thick, high-density EVA foam provides insulation and padding for the cold, hard ground
- Outer shell is made with coated ripstop nylon that protects against wet ground
- Inner surface uses water-resistant, breathable 70-denier coated ripstop nylon that is completely sealed to keep sand and dirt out
- The Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original chair has a 250 lb. weight capacity
Utility
- Keeps your backside dry
- Place to rest
- 100% Relaxing
Mass
- 1 lb 5 oz.
- Folded 4”x16.5”
Maintenance
- Wipe with a damp rag.
- Put away dry
Investment
- About $50
Trial
- We’ve taken this chair on every campout and hike for the last three months.
- This chair can even be opened up all the way, and be used as a chair for two adults or several kids
- It’s insulating, and padded
- Longer version of Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Chair (The Powerlounger), can be used as a sleeping pad. Just a few ounces more! Multi-use! Maybe an R rating of 2
- Feels like a rocking chair
- Rugged, durable, unbelievably comfortable
- Heavy duty without being heavy!
Backpack Hack of the Week™: Dirty Dishes
If you want a quick and easy way to scrub the last bits of chili mac out of your Sierra cup, here’s the trick.
Pick up some dirt or sand from the ground and use that to scour your dish clean! When you’re finished, simply rinse the dish away from camp and away from the stream, with clean potable water. Lots of times you don’t even need soap.
This will save you the hassle of bringing along a scrubbing pad, or having to rinse out a bandana.
You Might Be a Backpacker…
- If you buy baby powder for your feet, not your baby, you might be a backpacker.
- If you can eyeball exactly .75 ounces of denatured alcohol, you might be a backpacker.
- If you buy yellow Heet for your alcohol stove, but have no idea what in the heck it’s doing on the automotive aisle, you might be a backpacker.
- If you take your kids back to school shopping and can be heard muttering “Exactly how many liters does this thing hold? What no suspension?” you might be a backpacker.
- If you skip the Slurpees at 7-Eleven and head straight for the high-calorie Honey Buns and Smart Water in the lightweight bottle, you might be a backpacker.
Trail Wisdom
“I could never resist the call of the trail.”
-Buffalo Bill