The First 40 Miles: Hiking and Backpacking Podcast

The First 40 Miles: Hiking and Backpacking Podcast episodes:

• 12.18.2018

  214: The Final Episode

  Show Notes: Episode 214   Dear First 40 Milers, It has been a delight to share our wilderness backpacking journey with you!  You’ve learned and discovered right along with us.  We’re deeply touched by all the kind words and the stories that you’ve...

  
• 12.11.2018

  213: Health Benefits of Backpacking

  Show Notes: Episode 213 Today on the First 40 Miles, if you haven’t figured it out by experience, then we’ll give you one more huge reason to begin backpacking…the health benefits!  The list of health benefits is huge!  Then our SUMMIT...

  
• 12.04.2018

  212: PLAY: Games on the Trail

  Show Notes: Episode 212 Today on the First 40 Miles,  who says you can’t have type one fun and type two fun on a backpacking trip?  Today’s episode explores games on the trail and how to make memories without bringing Monopoly. ...

  
• 11.27.2018

  211: Gear That Lasts the Miles

  Show Notes: Episode 211 Today on the First 40 Miles, we love our listeners!  And we love hearing their stories!  Then, even if you never plan to do a thru hike, you can still scam some of their best gear hacks...

  
• 11.20.2018

  210: Battle of the Utensil

  Show Notes: Episode 210 Today on the First 40 Miles, maybe you want to eat like royalty on the trail—but you don’t need a 15 piece place setting to make that happen.  What does it take to shovel food from your...

  
• 11.13.2018

  209: Hidden Messages in Your Gear

  Show Notes: Episode 209 Today on the First 40 Miles, have you ever given much thought to the names that companies give gear?  The name of your pack or your tent isn’t just some random name they pulled out of a...

  
• 11.06.2018

  208: HEAVY: When You Can’t Carry the Load

  Show Notes: Episode 208 Today on the First 40 Miles, we’ve heard people say “I’d love to go backpacking like I did when I was younger, but I just can’t carry the load.”  Are their backpacking days truly over?  Then, what...

  
• 10.30.2018

  207: Scary Stuff

  Show Notes: Episode 207:  Scary Stuff Today on The First 40 Miles, we’ve dredged up as many scary things as we can for this Halloween episode.  Cougar attacks, mysterious items in hiker boxes, dead cats and the scariest thing of all—hiker...

  
• 10.23.2018

  206: Backpacking Dinner Challenge

  Show Notes: Episode 206 Today on the First 40 Miles, we’ve dumped out our box of random backpacking food, affectionately labeled, our “Bucket o’ Calories”, and will go head to head today as Josh and I battle it out, civilly, for...

  
• 10.16.2018

  205: Steve’s Trip Report

  Show Notes: Episode 204: Steve’s Hike Today on the First 40 Miles, we’re checking in with our friend Steve, who completed a thru hike of the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail this summer.  And we’ll throw in a backpack...

  
• 10.09.2018

  204: So, How Was Your Hike?

  Show Notes: Episode 204 Today on the First 40 Miles, maybe you’ve posted a few pics of your backpacking trip on social media, and now everyone is asking you “So…How was your trip?”  What’s the best way to respond?  Then we...

  
• 10.02.2018

  203: Pardon Our Dust

  Show Notes: Episode 203: Pardon Our Dust Today on the First 40 Miles, all of our backpacking gear is in moving boxes, sitting in the barn, waiting for us to unpack them!  We’re keeping the podcast going through our move, and...

  
• 09.25.2018

  202: The Slow, Methodical Accumulation of Gear

  Show Notes: Episode 202 Today on the First 40 Miles, so you’re convinced! Backpacking is your new thing and you’re headed out to buy the latest and best of everything from the packing list.  Wait!  We’ll share a few reasons to...

  
• 09.18.2018

  201: Cowboy Camping

  Show Notes: Episode 201 Today on the First 40 Miles, we’ll talk about cowboy camping and why we tried it.  Then a story from a listener about how she transitioned from car camping to backpacking.  Today’s hack is a great way...

  
• 09.11.2018

  200: A Week on the Pacific Crest Trail

  Show Notes: Episode 200 Today on the First 40 Miles, we’re live on the Pacific Crest Trail! Opening * Our trip with Steve * About 70 miles * The “E” section of the PCT in Oregon Top 5 Things We Loved About this Trip Audio from trip… The...

  
• 09.04.2018

  199: REFLECTIONS: The Four Year Anniversary of Our First Backpacking Trip Together

  Show Notes: Episode 199 Today on the First 40 Miles, we get a little nostalgic whenever September rolls around.  This week marks the 4 year anniversary of our first 40 miles—the trip Josh and Heather took together with friends around Mt....

  
• 08.28.2018

  198: Rewired Backpacking Brain

  Show Notes: Episode 198 Today on the First 40 Miles, wilderness backpacking has the power to rewire your brain—and we’ll share the top 5 ways it’s changed us.  Then, an epic way to stay clean while backpacking.  Next a listener shares...

  
• 08.21.2018

  197: Anxiety on the Trail

  Show Notes: Episode 197 Today on the First 40 Miles, when hiking or backpacking, our whole goal is to move forward, otherwise we’d just set up our tent in the parking lot.  But what do you do when anxiety stops your...

  
• 08.14.2018

  196: Lightning Safety

  Show Notes: Episode 196  8/14/2018 Today on the First 40 Miles, I was wondering what today’s episode should be about… and then it struck me.   Today we’ll chat about lightning safety.  Nothing shocking.  We promise to conduct ourselves appropriately.  Then ya’ll...

  
• 08.07.2018

  195: A LONG HIKE: Prepping for a Weeklong Trip

  Show Notes: Episode 195 Today on the First 40 Miles, this week we’ll talk about an upcoming weeklong trip and what we’re doing to prepare.  Then, if you’ve got an itch to hit the trail, but you have no gear, we’ll...

  
• 07.31.2018

  194: The Womens’ Advantage

  Show Notes: Episode 194 Today on the First 40 Miles, if you think that men have the natural advantage on the trail, think again.  Then for the Summit Gear Review, an STP device that levels the playing field when it comes...

  
• 07.24.2018

  193: The First Step

  Show Notes: Episode 193 Today on the First 40 Miles, we love getting audio recordings from our listeners—and today we have one from a new backpacker who figured out his own way of doing things.  Then, on the SUMMIT Gear Review,...

  
• 07.17.2018

  192: Getting Back to Basics

  Show Notes: Episode 192 Today on the First 40 Miles, sometimes life gets out of control—and when that happens, it’s time to get back to basics.  We’ll talk a little about how to simplify your trip.  Then, the Top 5 ways...

  
• 07.10.2018

  191: Micro Improvements

  Show Notes: Episode 191 Today on the First 40 Miles, how would you do things differently next time?  Today we’re talking micro improvements.  Then on our Top 5 List, we’ll share why we prioritize backpacking.  If you’re looking for a way...

  
• 07.03.2018

  190: COLD + HUNGRY: The Stoveless Cooking Episode

  Show Notes: Episode 190 Today on the First 40 Miles, what you may have thought of as an essential piece of backpacking gear isn’t as indispensable as you think.  Today, we’re going stoveless, and we’ll share some delicious ways to ditch...

  
• 06.26.2018

  189: What is Real?

  Show Notes: Episode 189 Today on the First 40 Miles, what is real?  Social media does a pretty bang-up job of convincing us that everything that’s posted is real, but we’re smart enough to know better.  Today, we’ll call their bluff...

  
• 06.19.2018

  188: Wise Words from a Old Mountain Goat

  Show Notes: Episode 188 Today on the First 40 Miles, are you over 50, 60, 70 and wondering if it’s too late to begin backpacking?  It’s never too late.  We’ll share some wise words from an old mountain goat.  Then, on...

  
• 06.12.2018

  187: How Would You Describe Your First Backpacking Trip?

  Show Notes: Episode 187 Today on the First 40 Miles, still wondering what your first backpacking trip will be like?  We think we can boil it down to five words.  Then, we’ve found a solar charger that will not only power...

  
• 06.05.2018

  186: TRAILS: A Little Light Trail Maintenance

  Show Notes: Episode 186 Today on the First 40 Miles,  I used to believe that trails just existed and that they were just the well-worn footpaths created by thousands of people walking those same miles over and over.  Nope.  Trails are...

  
• 05.29.2018

  185: Weekend with Friends

  Show Notes: Episode 185 Today on the First 40 Miles, within 24 hours we hiked a cumulative 25 miles, ate about 15 pounds of food, built three teepees and breathed in more campfire smoke than the Surgeon General would recommend.  Today...

  
• 05.22.2018

  184: Camp Chores

  Show Notes: Episode 184 Today on the First 40 Miles, after a long, glorious day of hiking, you arrive into camp and you can relax.  Almost.  We’ll share a few things you’ll need to do first that will make it so...

  
• 05.15.2018

  183: Taking Some Friends Along

  Show Notes: Episode 183 Today on the First 40 Miles, we’re planning a family backpacking trip with another family who hasn’t been backpacking before.  What can we do to give them a great introduction to the wilderness?  Then we’ll share a...

  
• 05.08.2018

  182: Tinkering with Tarps

  Show Notes: Episode 182 Today on the First 40 Miles, what do you get when you mix the ancient Japanese art of paper folding with a huge sheet of silnylon?  Tarpigami.  We’ll talk tarps today and learn about some of the...

  
• 05.01.2018

  181: Raising the Next Generation of Hikers and Backpackers

  Show Notes: Episode 181 Today on the First 40 Miles, it’s too hard.  I’m too tired.  I just can’t.  Is resilience a lost skill?  And how can we pass it on to the next generation?  On today’s Top 5 List we’ll...

  
• 04.24.2018

  180: Do You Know What You Signed Up For?

  Show Notes: Episode 180 Today on the First 40 Miles, are you sure you want to go backpacking?  Do you know what you’re signing up for?  We’ll wisen you up a little.  On today’s Top 5 List, learn what not to...

  
• 04.17.2018

  179: Spring Break at the Metolius River

  Show Notes: Episode 179  4/17/2018 Today on the First 40 Miles, we report on our spring break adventure to the Metolius River.  Then, we’ll review an ultralight headlamp from UCO.  Today’s Backpack Hack of the Week will give you a good...

  
• 04.10.2018

  178: Test of Time

  Show Notes: Episode 178 Today on the First 40 Miles, some gear is fun for just a few trips, but other gear stands the test of time.  We’re going back into The First 40 Miles Archives, to find out which gear...

  
• 04.03.2018

  177: BEGINNERS: One Step at a Time

  Show Notes: Episode 177 Today on the First 40 Miles, if you’re a beginner backpacker, you are on the threshold of one of the most thrilling adventures of your life.   We’ll help you navigate this new adventure with confidence.  For today’s...

  
• 03.27.2018

  176: The Importance of Redundancy

  Show Notes: Episode 176 Today on the First 40 Miles, if you’re bringing something on a backpacking trip “just in case”, there’s a good chance you’ll probably never use that item. How do you know which “just in case” items are...

  
• 03.20.2018

  175: Backpacking is Better With Friends

  Show Notes: Episode 175 Today on the First 40 Miles, hockey may be better with Wayne Gretsky, but who are the people you want to backpack with?  Then on today’s SUMMIT Gear Review, a gear repair that takes 15 minutes, and...

  
• 03.13.2018

  174: Scared or Prepared?

  Show Notes: Episode 174 Today on the First 40 Miles, have you ever thought about how your skills as a backpacker can be a huge benefit to yourself and others during a natural disaster?  Today we’ll share a story from a...

  
• 03.06.2018

  173: Backpacking Conversations

  Show Notes: Episode 173 Today on the First 40 Miles, we talk about our latest project, a children’s book designed to help get kids outside.  An on-the-fly top 5 list emerges as Josh and Heather plan ahead for future episodes.  Then...

  
• 02.27.2018

  172: The Next Level of Essentials

  Show Notes: Episode 172 Today on the First 40 Miles, Once you’ve got survival in the woods figured out, maybe you’re ready to take it to the next level.  We’ve got the top 5 secondary survival essentials to round out your...

  
• 02.20.2018

  171: Survival Essentials

  Show Notes: Episode 171 Today on the First 40 Miles, we’re most of the way through winter—and we’ve survived!  And for today’s top 5 list, we’ll share some survival essentials—known to the bushcrafters as “the five Cs”.  Then we’ll share one...

  
• 02.13.2018

  170: A Winter Overnighter

  Show Notes: Episode 170 Today on the First 40 Miles, we took off for 24  hours to enjoy a little Northwest winter backpacking trip.  We’ll share our top 5 experiments plus our brush with death!  And if you’ve ever wondered how...

  
• 02.06.2018

  169: FEATHERS: The Down Episode

  Show Notes: Episode 169 Today on the First 40 Miles, Ounce for ounce, down is the warmest insulating material available—but where does it come from, how do synthetics match up, and did Neil Sedaka really write a song about his down...

  
• 01.30.2018

  168: Weight vs. Volume

  Show Notes: Episode 168 Today on the First 40 Miles, if you’re trying to get your pack weight down, but the numbers just don’t want to budge, we have a new challenge for you.  Reduce. Your. Volume.  We’ll share 5 ways...

  
• 01.23.2018

  167: Prepping for a Winter Backpacking Trip

  Show Notes: Episode 167 Today on the First 40 Miles, Friday night is always date night, and for this week’s date night, we’re packing and prepping for a quick winter backpacking trip—and we’ll tell you why.  Then, we’ll review a sleeping...

  
• 01.16.2018

  166: Armchair Backpacker

  Show Notes: Episode 166 Today on the First 40 Miles, for whatever reason, maybe you’re not going to be able to get out hiking or backpacking for a while.  That’s ok!  We’ll help you immerse yourself in the experience without leaving...

  
• 01.09.2018

  165: Reading Between the Lines

  Show Notes: Episode 165 Today on the First 40 Miles, while looking for your next hike or backpacking trip, it’s easy to lose track of time reading colorful, inspiring trip reports.   We’ll help you decipher some uncommon words and phrases you...